Roanoke Rapids and Weldon schools have joined forces in their efforts for a new Manning school and rehabilitation of Weldon High School.

Roanoke Rapids Superintendent Dennis Sawyer and Weldon Superintendent Elie Bracy III both spoke to commissioners during the board’s meeting tonight to make a joint request for architect fees using the same firm.

Sawyer requested commissioners make a decision by its March meeting.

“We’re coming here in the spirit of cooperation,” Sawyer said, inviting Bracy to the podium, telling commissioners the purpose was to request a new Manning Elementary School and renovations to Weldon High School. “Weldon High School serves well over 1,000 students. Both of these priorities are combined.”

Said Bracy: “In the past we were all for new construction.”

He said, however, looking at school improvement plan studies, Manning was in worse shape than Weldon. “What we want to is get a renovated building to better serve our students.”

Manning students speak

Both superintendents invited two students each to speak to the county’s governing panel.

“One big improvement that should be considered is a gym for Manning’s physical education resource class,” Lauryn Jones, a Manning fifth-grader, said.

Jones said currently two classes — 40 students — must assemble at one time in a trailer. “We don’t have enough space for the activities we want to do. The small space limits our choices of activities.”

Jones said the school also needs a new music room. “We need a new music room for the same reason we need a gym. The music room is in a trailer. In the trailer we need more room for storing and playing our instruments.”

The lunchroom, which also serves as a multipurpose room, needs addressing, the student said. “I believe it would be more accommodating if we removed the stage that is in there and replace it with another serving station or more tables. The stage makes the lunchroom seem smaller.”

Jones said the school needs an auditorium that would enable more, if not all grade levels to assemble at one time.

There are, she said, “Many improvements we could make at Manning and the biggest improvement is building a new one … the building simply helps everyone, including the students, do a better job. So I say, out with the old and in with the new.”

Spence Turner, also a Manning student, said the walkways leak causing puddles. He said the school needs one central entrance to make it safer for students. “We need an additional computer lab so all our classes can sit in the lab.”

Weldon students speak

Weldon High School is simply outdated, junior Shandrea Williams said. “Our high school was built in the 50s. By our school being built in the 50s it hasn’t had much of an upgrade since that period.”

The school needs soundproofing, she said. “When class is going on you can hear other teachers teaching, which can cause a distraction. We need a better ventilation system so system so during the winter the school can be warm and during the summer the school can be cool.”

Williams said with the improvements come better classroom opportunities. “Weldon High School should be rebuilt because the school is old and it will impact the students in a positive way.”

Classrooms, junior Kiana Rayner said, are small and filled to the unnecessary limit per class period.

The school, she said, has many safety hazards and can pose health hazards to some students.

Reactions

Following the presentations, board Chairman James Pierce, said, “We’re going to work very hard to figure out a way. All the students need good, modern facilities. We’re going to work hard to figure out a way to fund the new projects.”

Commissioner Rives Manning said he was pleased Sawyer and Bracy came up with a joint solution and noted using the same architects would be a big savings to the county.

Outside of the meeting, Bracy said of the joint effort, “We thought it was the simplest thing to do.”

Bracy said the two schools systems want to get the bids worked out but renovations to the high school are estimated at around $7.5 million.

He said the joint effort shows the two systems want what’s best for their students. “It’s better to work together instead of fighting each other.”

Sawyer said the cooperative effort was born of regular meetings the superintendents have together. “We just started talking about a more collaborative effort. The unified spirit is better for both of the communities.”

Pierce said following the meeting the first thing commissioners would have to do is study the school improvement plan before making a commitment to release funds for architect fees.

He also said the county would have to look at funding options for actual construction, which for both projects totals around $30 million. “That’s the question,” he said, “where does the money come from? Do we do it with bonds or something else?”