UPDATE: A vote in the dark: Moore commissioners question school operations on redistricting before Nov. 2026 bond referendum

Moore County Schools announced citizens will be asked to approve a school bond without knowing which families will lose their neighborhood schools and personal property rights through redistricting during the Jan. 14 commissioners’ meeting.

This is the first in a series of articles covering the Moore County Commissioners’ comprehensive work session on Jan. 14.

During a roundtable on commissioners’ individual goals, Chairman Nick Picerno said he wanted to limit growth in some areas and encourage growth in other places. He plans to keep the tax rate neutral and create a tax fund for the fire department with a one-penny tax while cutting a penny from the general fund to keep the same tax rate.

Most notably, Picerno said his goal was to protect personal property rights.

Personal property rights mean people can control and benefit from what they own. Concerning public education, homeowners pay property taxes with the expectation of guaranteed access to certain location-specific public services, including local schools.

Redistricting alters property value to the homeowner and shifts their public-school benefit while their tax dollars support their chosen public school.

Redistricting shatters social ecosystems, especially for young people, because neighborhoods are places where some of the most memorable friendships form and school is where they mature and deepen.

Redistricting forces families to accept a new school rather than the one connected to their property, to accept longer bus rides, unfamiliar schools and weakened peer connections.

Redistricting is a forced exchange rather than a voluntary one concerning property rights.

Remember your property rights when voting for the school bond referendum, which may be lumped into one vote, instead of individually listing school builds, which would offer freedom of choice.

The commissioners met with the school board yesterday, and Assistant Director of Operations Jennifer Purvis attended the Jan. 14 commissioners’ work session.

Commissioner Tom Adams asked Purvis about busing students from their neighborhoods and pointed at Picerno, who spoke about property rights.

Purvis said when voters are called to decide on building a new $47 million Carthage Elementary School and new $157 million comprehensive high school, the new bus routes redistricting children from their neighborhood schools into different schools would not be ready, announcing a vote in the dark.

Purvis said the North Carolina Highway 211 corridor was a likely redistricting area.

Voters will not know in Nov. 2026 at the school bond referendum which families will lose their personal property rights through the school’s redistricting.

Learn more about the controversial land purchase for Carthage Elementary School here.

UPDATE: Jennifer Purvis reached out to Sandhills News in an email. She writes that no redistricting choices have been made because a location for the suggested high school is yet to be chosen. The district plans to work with the Institution for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University to analyze enrollment data to determine redistricting areas after locations are identified, noting that it is impossible to name specific roads or neighborhoods before land is purchased. Purvis stressed that the bond effort is aimed at addressing overcrowding at two high schools, Union Pines and Pinecrest, not stripping families of rights.

Read Erica Davis’ input from Jan. 13 on how having too many schools impacts students and funding in this article under UPDATE #2.

Jan. 14, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.

Sandhills News is plain-English local government reporting that explains how decisions affect your land, taxes, schools and rights.