Lee Schools weigh highly expensive builds against costly expansions

The Lee County Board of Education reviewed building new schools versus expanding existing schools at the Oct. 14 meeting.

Superintendent Christoper P. Dossenbach shared the school expansion site challenges.

Southern Lee High School is the only campus designed for future expansion. Officials said they are unsure where the assumption originated that other existing schools were built with expansion in mind, noting acreage, core facilities, sewage capacity, traffic, and utilities must be considered.

Most of Lee County’s population growth is in one central area, meaning that expanding Deep River or J. Glenn Edwards elementary schools would not resolve the broader issue. Research indicates the optimal size for an elementary school ranges between 500 and 700 students.

By 2030, Lee County Schools will maintain its facilities to support 95% optimal usage, ensuring efficient resource management and long-term sustainability.

Expanding Deep River Elementary School to add 300 seats would cost an estimated $25.4 million. It would include $3.6 million for renovating core facilities, $2.7 million for reconstruction, $13.3 million for new construction, $3 million for site work, and more than $1.6 million in design and engineering fees.

In comparison, building a new 850-seat elementary school would cost about $56 million. The cost per seat for a new build is roughly $65,800, while expansion comes in higher at about $83,300 per seat.

“Half the districts were growing, and it was 100% new build versus expansion,” Dossenbach said about attending a regional superintendent’s meeting and asking how they facilitated growth.

Chair Sherry Womack shared that the North Carolina Department of Instruction’s building requirements change, and older schools require updates that add costs to expansion costs.

Over a 30-year life cycle, new schools have lower maintenance and utility costs and typically avoid major system replacements for two decades or more. Expanding older schools, however, carries higher upkeep expenses, often 1.5 to two times greater per square foot, and a shorter effective lifespan of 15 to 20 years.

Logistical and infrastructure barriers at Deep River Elementary, including limited space for expansion, a centrally located cafeteria that complicates additions, and long sewage pipe runs of more than six miles. Construction would likely take 12 to 18 months and require temporary classrooms and utility rerouting to keep the school operational during the project.

Read the full report including J. Glenn Edwards Elementary  here.

Vice-Chair Alan Rummel requested that commissioners and media receive a report on the feasibility of building new or expanding existing schools.

The Lee County High School band performed The National Anthem at the meeting’s onset.

Womack announced a proclamation to honor arts in the schools to recognize the month of Oct. as ARTStober-to remind people arts are essential to building creative minds.

San-Lee Middle School’s band performed a musical followed by the Lee County High School band, and the board applauded.

Lee Schools received a grant of nearly $200,000 from the North Carolina Community Coalition for improvement in family-parent engagement and learning achievements. The partnership will serve W.B. Wicker Elementary School and includes a full-time employee who will work as a liaison for all stakeholders for three years beginning in Jan. 2026.

The next meeting is Nov. 4.

Oct. 15, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

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