Duplin moves forward with early college high school plan
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on May 13, 2009 1:46 PM
The James Kenan School of Engineering took another step closer Tuesday night to becoming an early college high school at James Sprunt Community College.
The Duplin County Board of Education approved a $21,850 contract with the Bowman Murray Hemingway architectural firm in Wilmington for the school's modular building placement at the community college.
The contract includes surveying, land preparation, getting electrical service to the building, geotechnical work to support the building and preparing the layout. The 13,000 square-foot building would cost a total of $494,000 to purchase and erect, said school maintenance director Bobby Norwood.
"We're using the college's architects because they are familiar with the campus," he told the school board members. "They know where all the water and sewer lines are."
He said he expects to have everything in place and ready in time for the school year in the fall.
The James Kenan School of Engineering is one of the state's new STEM schools, specializing in teaching accelerated courses in science, technology, engineering and math. The school currently provides an emphasis on engineering, but as an early college high school, it also will include advanced studies in technology, math and science.
Students have to apply to attend an early college high school. They can choose whether to graduate on time or to stay a fifth year and finish an associate degree.
The 50 students currently attending classes at the engineering school would be given the option of staying or returning to their old high school. Enrollment would be open to students throughout the county.