With schools in the Union district transitioning to new locations this summer, the Sampson County Board of Education must now turn its attention to the northern district, a stagnant facility and a reconfiguration that’s been on the drawing board for several months now.

Although it was not on the agenda to discuss at the school board meeting earlier this week, board member G.H. Wilson inquired about district reconfiguration.

“When do we anticipate a decision on the realignment of the district up there at Midway?” asked Wilson, who lives in that district.

“I think there are two main things we need to look at there,” said superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker. “One is we need to know which direction the board wants to go in, and the second thing is the funding issues we are going to have.”

Lenker said that it would take at least $600,000 to do everything that needs to be done in the district. Those funds would help with the reconfiguration, including additional personnel that would be needed.

Over a month ago, Lenker and the board met with parents in the district and shared with them three options that they had come up with for the district — the three were whittled down from the intital five options the board proposed last year.

Option A was to have grades K-2 go to Midway Elementary School and grades 3-5 go to the old Midway High School. The option would house no mobile units and is expected to have 208 students at the K-2 level and 233 at the 3-5 grade level. Option B would move grades 5-6 to the old Midway High School and require two mobile units; the option would house 350 students. Option C would move grades 7-8 to the old Midway High School and grades 5-6 to Midway Middle School. The option would require six mobile units and will house 425 students.

Option A will cost the system $679,329; Option B would cost $913,242 and Option C would cost $1,118,157.

In previous meetings, the board has hinted at favoring option A, the major reason being because that option was the least expensive.

However, an impromptu vote at a parent meeting, called for by Lenker, showed more parents’ hands going up for option B, a far more expensive alternative.

“That is on the low end,” said Lenker about the projected $600,000 school officials think will be needed to move forward with the Midway plans. “We also need to have a conversation with county officials within the next couple of weeks to see if we have any other options (funding-wise). If we don’t, then I think that we need to go back to the drawing board and start a new plan.”

“I think that we need to do something if we are going to do it,” said Wilson. “If we are going to go forward with it, then we need to do it. We need to make a decision by Christmas, right?”

“We have the renovation money,” said Lenker, about federal QZAB money the school system has to do renovations at both Midway and Union. “The big question is, if the $600,000 is not there (from the county) then we will have to take another route.”

Lenker said that members will sit down with county leaders within the next two months to discuss the projected additional $600,000 needed from the county to operate the Midway facility.

Board member Doris Warren asked about the prices on the building materials.

“I wonder, with the economy the way it is, if we couldn’t save some money,” she said.

Anthony Vann, executive director of auxiliary services, told Sampson County Board of Education members that, for the most part, the pricing from contractors has “stabilized.”

Chairman Glenn Tart said that leaving the old Midway High School empty is a mistake.

“We need to utilize that high school at least once a week just to have training or something in there to flush the toilets and things of that nature,” he said. “The longer it sits there idle, the more money we are going to have to spend on it. If we shut it down and not do anything with it, it is going to cost us.”

Vann noted that a local church (The Journey) meets at the old school twice a week.

“That is the only activity that I know that is going on there now,” he said.

There was no further discussion Monday about the reconfiguration.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.