New Hanover County Commissioners recently approved the Board of Education’s request to place an education bond on the November General Election ballot. In an economy where dollars for education are extremely hard to come by, this bond will allow New Hanover County Schools to advance technology, safety and overall building structures into the 21st century.
 
If the $160 million bond referendum is passed, all New Hanover County Schools will benefit directly and indirectly from the funds. Every school will be made safer with the installation of security cameras.
 
The new school and replacement schools will provide needed space at the most overcrowded elementary schools. Renovations at the middle school level will modernize obsolete facilities and replace outdated building systems. The primary focus of the bond will be on school construction to provide much needed space for the growing population of public school children. 
 
Bond funds will build a new elementary school in the northeastern part of the county, along with replacing two elementary schools, College Park and Blair, which are outdated facilities. 
 
Additional construction will provide new gymnasiums for two high schools that currently have no facilities where the entire student body can assemble at one time. Every middle school in the district will also receive renovations and additions, as well as Wrightsville Beach Elementary.
 
Bond funds are targeted for the major construction issues that our schools are facing so that current capital funds can be used for other concerns. 
 
There are concerns that it will be difficult to finance the bond due to an additional tax burden on our citizens. However, the bonds would be repaid over a 20-year period with an average increase of three cents on the property tax rate. 
 
To put this situation into perspective, the tax bill on a $200,000 home would increase approximately $60 per year, or $5 per month, less than the amount many spend each week for coffee. 
 
The overall impact on our economy is reflected in that businesses interested in relocating to the area and current businesses bringing in new executives are concerned with the quality and safety of our schools.  
 
Remedying the current conditions of our area schools will make our community competitive in recruiting and supporting future economic growth.
 
As co-chair of the Bond Committee, I believe that it is imperative to the potential of our community that we focus on the significance of bringing our school facilities up-to-date so that students and teachers will have a safe and productive environment to learn and achieve and compete in today’s society. 
 
The Bond Committee is comprised of community leaders and business people from every aspect of New Hanover County focusing on the priorities of education and the children who will be the leaders to tomorrow. For more information on becoming involved with supporting the Bond or having a Bond presentation made to your group, please contact me: Ann David, [email protected].
 
Ann David is co-chair of the New Hanover County Schools Bond Committee.