Harnett Schools Facility Survey identifies $590.7M in capital needs, including five new schools

The Harnett County Board of Education released its facility needs survey for 2025-26 at the Aug. 3 meeting.

As with many agenda items, the “discussion” was limited and Superintendent Brooks Matthews read the prepared agenda. The video switched from full view to no view during the discussion. Despite the facility survey’s identification of $590.7 million in projected capital needs, the board allocated a mere three minutes to the report before proceeding to other matters, limiting the opportunity for extensive public awareness on the district’s long-term facilities strategy.

Without discussion or a presentation, the public was left to discern the 185-page facility needs survey’s dense data on their own.

An unseen [on video] board member identified two issues. Buies Creek Elementary and Western Harnett Elementary Schools were not listed as 5K schools, but as grades one through four in the data project.

The corrections will be made and shared with County Manager Brent Trout before the school board votes on accepting the data as accurate at the Aug. 17 meeting.

BAISCA, LLC organized facility data for NC DPI, assessing school facility needs, new construction, additions, and renovations.

The projected $591 million in facility needs reflects the construction of five new schools, significant enhancements to existing buildings, and more than $107 million needed for modernization. According to the report, the estimated total needs amount to $590.7 million, with $571.3 million allocated to instructional facilities and $19.4 million to non-instructional facilities.

The district needs $410 million for five new schools. The total figure includes a new Highland High School at $140 million, a new Northwest Harnett Middle School priced at $120 million, and the construction of three elementary schools, each with an approximate cost of $50 million, designated for the Northern Harnett, Buies Creek, and Western Harnett districts. In addition, the survey allocates $30 million for a Career and Technical Education wing at Harnett County Early College and $10 million for an auxiliary gymnasium at Triton High School.

The most expensive project, at $23.6 million, was identified as Triton High School, due to renovation needs and the proposed auxiliary gymnasium. Harnett County Early College needs $30.4 million in funding, which includes the new CTE addition. Lafayette Year-Round School’s renovation is estimated at about $19.1 million. Overhills High School ($10.4 million), Harnett Central High School ($7.8 million), Western Harnett High School ($7.2 million), and Buies Creek Elementary ($7.1 million) are among the campuses with needs over $7 million.

Lafayette Year-Round School was identified as the most deteriorated overall condition. The Facility Condition Index stands at 67%, indicating that the expenses for renovation approximate two-thirds of the total cost to erect a new school building. The Facility Condition Index for Buies Creek Elementary is 20%, with Triton High at 14%. A Facility Condition Index of 10% is reported for North Harnett Primary, South Harnett Elementary, and STAR Academy, with Harnett Central High and Western Harnett High each at 9%.

Enrollment pressures greatly influenced the district’s recommendations. Overhills High School is functioning at 122% of its capacity. With an attendance rate of 117%, Harnett Virtual Academy leads the group, followed by Harnett Central Middle School at 116%, Harnett County Early College at 115%, and Buies Creek Elementary at 108%. At Harnett Central High School, capacity utilization stands at 97%, with Erwin Elementary, Overhills Middle, and Lillington-Shawtown Elementary all exceeding 94% utilization.

Instructional facilities need $107.7 million in renovations within the upcoming decade. Key renovations include an investment of $25 million in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems, $19.6 million for athletic facilities, $18.2 million for other renovation projects, $14.7 million for exterior building components and roofs, $12.9 million for site improvements, $8.8 million for environmental remediation such as asbestos removal, and $7.3 million for building code and life safety enhancements.

The district’s most pressing objectives for the next two years are the Lafayette Year-Round School, valued at $19.3 million. Additional prominent upcoming projects include Buies Creek Elementary with a $2.1 million budget, Western Harnett High also at $2.1 million, Coats-Erwin Middle at $1.7 million, Overhills Elementary at $1.6 million, Overhills Middle at $1.4 million, Western Harnett Middle at $1.3 million, and Dunn Elementary at $1.2 million.

The survey identified $19.4 million in non-instructional needs, including a proposed $15.4 million transportation facility and upgrades to maintenance, transportation, finance, child nutrition, and administrative facilities.

Aug. 5, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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