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School board approves new elementary school design

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Plans for the new Northeast Elementary School progressed with an agreement on where the school will be and what it might look like during an Oct. 14 school board meeting.

The New Hanover County Board of Education approved the purchase of 18 acres at 202 Edgewater Club Rd. for $1.6 million and design plans by LS3P Associates for the school.

Charles Boney and Leanne Lawrence of LS3P shared early conceptual renderings of the new facility, based upon the prototype design used for Castle Hayne Elementary School. Boney said designers discussed what worked with teachers and staff at Castle Hayne to tweak the design.

Recommendations from a 2013 security audit are also incorporated into the design, including a secure entryway that limits building access for visitors to administrative offices upon entrance.

The 82,000-square foot building will house 595 students.

Honoring a pledge to support construction of the school if the $160 million school bond fails in November, New Hanover County Commissioners allocated funds in the school system’s 2014-15 capital budget to move forward with the design phase.

The new elementary school will cost $16.4 million to construct. Additional infrastructure development needs total $586,599.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016. The new school will serve as a swing site for Blair Elementary School students while their facility is reconstructed during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. The school will welcome assigned students for the 2019-20 school year, following redistricting.

In other business, the school board approved an amendment allowing school staff to schedule teacher work days on primary and general Election Days beginning with the 2015-16 school year.

When the school board met with the New Hanover County Board of Elections to discuss the change during a Sept. 16 work session, the school board voiced concerns about student safety as motivation to request a calendar change.

Fourteen county schools serve as polling locations during the 2014 election. Classes will remain in session when voters cast ballots Nov. 4.

County elections director Marvin McFadyen shared a possible plan to incorporate more schools as polling locations, which featured use of 20 school buildings. The possible plan consolidates 43 existing polling locations to 25 polling locations.

McFadyen said fewer locations would not pose a problem due to the county’s small size.

No state law dictates the number of polling places required for each county or precinct, but a final consolidation plan must be approved by the state Board of Elections before implementation.

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