The Cumberland County Board of Education’s Finance Committee voted 8-1 Tuesday night to move forward with a needs-based state grant application for E.E. Smith High School, taking another step in the district’s long-term plan to replace the aging campus.
Board member Greg West was the only vote against the motion.
The 2025–2026 Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund provides state funding for new school construction or major renovations in counties with limited tax bases. If approved, the application would help secure funding for a new facility to replace E.E. Smith. The relocation of the historic Fayetteville high school has been a focal point of community discussion about aging infrastructure and equity across the district.
During public comments before the vote, Cynthia Brent, education committee chair for the Fayetteville branch of the NAACP, urged the board to ensure transparency and fairness in how state and local funds are distributed. In June, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved the school system’s budget in full, which included $300 million in funding for school maintenance and $160 million for new construction costs over the following seven years.
“With $300 million set aside for maintenance, how will the board ensure that our oldest and most neglected schools are prioritized?” Brent said. “These facilities have waited far too long for meaningful attention. When will we see a public timeline for these repairs?”
The board’s vote follows the Finance Committee’s recommendation in late September to pursue the grant.
The district is seeking $60 million of the state’s roughly $258 million allocated for the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund Grant program, supported by the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Past applications for E.E. Smith funding have been repeatedly denied, CityView previously reported, so there are no guarantees this grant will be approved.
The district is also undergoing a comprehensive system-wide facility study, expected to be completed in December, to examine all schools and prioritize future construction and maintenance needs.
Tuesday night’s vote moves the grant application forward to the state for review. While the state has not released an exact timeline for award announcements, funds are typically distributed based on the progress of approved projects once grants are awarded.
The board’s decision reflects a continued balancing act between pursuing funding opportunities and addressing broader equity concerns across the district’s aging facilities.
The next school board meeting will be held Nov. 10 due to the observance of Veterans Day.
Education reporter Dasia Williams can be reached at dwilliams@cityviewnc.com.
