An assessment of Cumberland County Schools’ facilities identified $805.8 million in recommended repairs and upgrades for aging buildings and infrastructure.
Those were the findings of a year-long Master Facilities Assessment conducted by MTG, a national advisory firm that provides education consulting services, and presented to members of the boards of education and county commissioners at a joint meeting on Friday.
The findings were presented by Lance Richards, an educational performance manager with MGT.
“We’re here to help you determine the need and chart a path here,” he said.
The schools are looking at an estimated $314,250,298.37 in total cost for the most-needed improvements to buildings, including new HVAC units, roofs, electrical, plumbing, grounds and landscaping. It also includes life safety needs – a set of building design and operation requirements to keep occupants safe during an emergency. A seven-year plan to address the most urgent needs has been developed, according to a Cumberland County Schools release. It will help to prioritize projects and allows funding to be stretched over the seven years.
Some schools have space that is not being used, Richards said. About 50% of space at Reid Ross Classical School is not being used. Such space could be used for classrooms depending on future needs, he said.
Cumberland County Schools plans to hire a firm to conduct a comprehensive study of redistricting to consider possible school consolidation and will include public input. Using data from the assessment and community feedback, a comprehensive facility plan will be developed and reviewed by the boards of education and commissioners.
Another session of the meeting focused on the priorities for the 2025-26 fiscal year amid budget planning, identifying the status of the funds available and dealing with teachers who are leaving and recruiting educators.
One of the school system’s priorities is supplemental pay for teachers.
In 2024, Cumberland County Schools ranked 13th in supplemental pay among 13 regional school systems, said Ruben Reyes, associate superintendent of Human Resources.
Scotland County ranked first with an average supplement of $8,062, followed by Whiteville with $7,625.
Other systems ranked higher than Cumberland for local salary supplements were the counties of Hoke, Sampson, Lee, Richmond, Harnett, Bladen, Montgomery, Anson, Moore and Robeson.
For the current fiscal year, the school system has a fund balance of $23,263,242, which is used primarily for unexpected expenses and other needs as the district sees fit.
The two boards agreed to hold another joint meeting ahead of planning for the 2026-27 school year.
