By ELENA MARSH
Staff Writer
Moore County’s three major public high schools are all slated to receive $600,000 for capital athletic improvements following campaigning and petitioning from the schools’ athletic departments.
Last summer, the Moore County Board of Commissioners approved $600,000 to Union Pines High School and $600,000 to North Moore High School for artificial turf installation.
Last month, the board received a letter from Pinecrest High School’s athletics booster club enumerating a number of improvements on the campus that they would like to make. The goal was to match the $600,000 the county allocated to Union Pines High School for the installation of artificial turf in its stadium.
Commissioners last year agreed to put $600,000 toward that project and $600,000 for similar work at North Moore High School. Then, earlier this year, the county directed the Board of Education to redirect a similar amount from unspent school resource officer salaries to the Union Pines turf project. Union Pines also is receiving a $120,000 grant from the Moore County Tourism Development Authority.
At the same March meeting, Moore County Schools communicated that North Moore High School is not seeking to use the $600,000 on a turf field and would most likely rather use the funds on other athletic improvements.
Pinecrest athletic boosters privately funded an artificial turf installation at the school a few years ago. The club has about $110,000 left to pay on a loan for the work. When the county chose to spend public dollars at Union Pines, Pinecrest boosters said they would, out of fairness, likely seek a similar level of funding for other identified projects.
At their Tuesday meeting, commissioners approved an allocation to Pinecrest as well as funds at North Moore to be used for other projects the schools are interested in funding. Commissioners made it clear during their vote that funding projects at all schools is important but they also should prioritize improvements that would reduce further expenditures.
“ The projects need to be, to reduce further expenditures,” said Chairman Nick Picerno. “In other words, for example, if you put in LED lighting where you have incandescent lighting, that substantially reduces electrical costs. So, we’re looking for projects that will reduce ongoing expenses down the road.”
The funds will come from the General Obligation Bond interest, which can be accessed by Moore County Schools on a reimbursement basis.
“I am pleased with the Moore County Board of Commissioners’ decision to approve $600,000 in funding for Pinecrest High School, as it represents a meaningful step toward ensuring equitable funding across all Moore County schools,” said Pinecrest Athletic Club president Kat Sacco. “This investment will support critical facility improvements that directly benefit our student-athletes.
In other action, commissioners:
* Approved a resolution requesting the North Carolina General Assembly to make all state and local elections held on even-numbered years and to be partisan elections.
* Approved a resolution requesting the North Carolina General Assembly to revise the funding formula for teacher allotments and urge them to pay for enhancement teachers — arts, physical education, health, languages and other supplemental classes — for middle and high schools.
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
