BY JIMMY SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
School Superintendent Lisa Martin stood before the Northampton County Board of Supervisors and the school board on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and explained why she thinks the county should fund millions in additional renovations to a massive school project that is already $27 million over budget.
The winning bid for the project to rebuild and renovate the building housing Northampton’s high and middle schools was $81.3 million and was awarded in October 2023.
Now the estimated cost of the project is $108 million — before the additional renovations requested by Martin and some members of the school board.
The additional renovations being discussed would be for the Career and Technical Education, or CTE, building, which was built in 1973.
“The building itself is not the goal. The goal is what happens in that building,” Martin said, saying renovations to the building would better prepare students for their futures.
Renovations to the building would include a new roof, upgraded heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, an upgraded electrical system, and more.
But waiting to renovate the CTE building would cost even more, officials said.
County Finance Director John Chandler estimated that waiting just another five years would cost the county $10 million more than it would to do the renovations now.
At present, work on the low-slung CTE building, which stands adjacent to the high school, would cost $7 million.
In August, the county’s financial consultant, Davenport and Company, recommended the county take out a $30 million line of credit to cover the expense of finishing the school construction and potentially the renovation of the CTE building.
Of the $30 million line of credit, the county would only pay interest on the amount it uses of the $30 million.
Even without work to the CTE building, the county does not have the funding to complete the project — there is a funding gap of almost $20 million, including the CTE building.
Supervisor Oliver Bennett mentioned recent tax increases in the county and asked Chandler if taxes would have to be increased again to accommodate the CTE building if it were to be renovated now.
“Most likely,” Chandler responded.
Supervisor Ernest Smith Jr., also was not sold on the renovations.
He mentioned he thought that the high school could collaborate more with Eastern Shore Community College on technical classes.
Martin said that traveling back and forth from Northampton High School and the college costs the students time, among other problems.
The board of supervisors in coming days will decide on a funding route to close the shortfall and will consider the CTE building.
Some school board members expressed their approval of the renovations.
“This is, I think, the board of supervisors’ opportunity to demonstrate truly that you are investing in your children,” said school board member Wayne Bell Jr.
School board member Jo Ann Molera added that she has seen the cost of school renovations roughly double in the 10 years she has been on the school board.
“You all make good points, but you all are not the ones that have to look these citizens in the eye and say, ‘I’m going to raise your taxes again,’” Bennett said in response.
