Basnight offers information on early college, school budget

On May 7, 2024, two items on the Dare County Board of Commissioners agenda dealt with setting up the Dare County Schools early college.

The first item established an initial $2.5 million budget for architectural services for the early college. Once the ordinance was in place, the commissioners could move to the second item.

That item establishes a contract with Oakley Collier Architects to design the new school on the College of The Albemarle campus in Manteo.

But not so fast: The commissioners had questions, had heard rumors and wanted some answers about the early college and the school system’s draft capital improvement budget. That budget calls for $29.8 million in fiscal year 2027 for capital improvements

Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight came to the podium to detail the path for the early college and answer questions.

When he was interviewed for the Dare County superintendency, Basnight reported that the Board of Education at that time said it wanted an early college and that the old College of The Albemarle campus on Twiford Road would be used. “This is not a new idea,” said Basnight.

Last spring, a walk-through of the Twiford buildings was conducted. The Oakley Collier assessment said it would cost $17 million to fix the campus. The Board of Education opted to build a new structure, now estimated to cost $23 million.

County manager Robert L. Outten explained that the funding for school capital projects comes from lottery proceeds, which accumulate in a state account for Dare County until spent. The sum of $25 million has been used for the new school because construction numbers are in flux. The funds are available now. Those lottery funds can only be used for school construction.

Basnight addressed the $29.6 million in the draft capital improvement budget. He has told the school board and said again to the Board of Commissioners that the sum is an estimate of the cost of the needs of the school system collected in one year rather than spread out over multiple years.

For example, the kitchen and cafeteria at Cape Hatteras Secondary School is at ground level. It was flooded with seven feet of water in 1993, requiring replacement of equipment. That’s the top priority in fiscal year 2027. The rebuild is estimated to cost $7 million.

Basnight was told that a new field house was promised to Manteo High and $400,000 was allocated. That was not enough in 2018 and not enough now. He said he thinks he can come up with another $600,000 to bring the total available for the field house to $1 million. The top priority of Manteo High’s administration is said to be public restrooms.

Basnight moved to squelch one rumor. “There has not been any discussion of closing Manteo High School.” Students will apply for admission to the early college. Faculty members will also submit applications. Manteo High School’s projected enrollment for next year is 539 students. The early college design calls for 350 students drawn from all Dare County high schools. The new teaching positions at the early college will be funded by North Carolina.

Another rumor is that advanced placement (AP) classes will be cut out. Basnight said no, but the staff will look at reducing under-populated sections of AP classes.

He said “we’re trying to increase our options. We’re constantly evaluating programs to add more value.”

Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert L. Woodard directly asked Basnight and Board of Education chairman David Twiddy is early college the Board of Education’s No 1 priority? The answer from both gentlemen was “yes.”

Dare’s Board of Commissioners approved both the budget ordinance and the contract with Oakley Collier Architects unanimously.

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