By Kristin Fox and Kim Lewicki
Highlands School had a reason to celebrate as the Highlands School project officially moved forward with a groundbreaking ceremony held in the middle school courtyard on Oct.22. County, state, school officials, community members and business organizations joined Vanoy Construction and Macon County Schools to celebrate this milestone as Highlands School expands to accommodate the growing needs of the school.
Senator Kevin Corbin says a few words at the groundbreaking for the Highlands School expansion.
The Highlands School expansion project will expand the middle school to accommodate much needed classroom space and additional space for career and technical education courses, and an updated media center.
Macon County Board Member Hilary Wilkes has fought hard for this project’s approval for several years.
In addition to expanding the middle school building, the project includes renovation to the elementary wing of the school that will repurpose two classroom spaces for pre-k classes fulfilling a significant need in the community.
Superintendent Josh Lynch speaks at the groundbreaking for the Highlands School project.
The ceremony opened with the national anthem sung by Joi Chapman Highlands School music teacher. Macon County Schools Superintendent, Josh Lynch was the Master of Ceremonies. Remarks were delivered by School Board Highlands Representative Hilary Wilkes and BOE chairman Jim Breedlove as well as North Carolina Senator Kevin Corbin.
From ;eft are Principal Sarah Holbrooks and Asst. Principal Alyssa DeBois.
Highlands School Principal Sarah Holbrooks also spoke and in a surprise move asked 30-year teacher assistant and graduate of Highlands School Cindy Reed to read two thank you cards she wrote to the school board and county commission.
MC Schools Superintendent Josh Lynch said the Highlands School stands on the brink of a transformation that will enhance the school’s learning environment and better prepare students for the future.
“Innovative classroom spaces will be designed with the latest educational practices so our students can learn in a dynamic and meaningful way while fostering creativity and collaboration. Middle school renovations will bring new life into our facilities where students can explore and discover their passions while they navigate their journey,” he said.
Lynch added the Pre-k classrooms will provide the youngest learners with a solid foundation.
“Investing in our youngest students is investing in our Highlands community and our collective future.”
In addition, he said the media center will be a place where imagination knows no bounds. “As we turn the soil today, remember this groundbreaking represents more than just renovation and construction, it symbolizes our commitment to nurturing young minds and shaping leaders of tomorrow.
Highlands School Board representative Hilary Wilkes gave an emotional and heartfelt speech describing the vision of the Advance Highlands Education Committee (AHEC) to what was transpiring today.
With the help of every aspect of the Highlands community – parents, private donors, nonprofits, Highlands School got a technology boost segueing into realizing Pre-K needs as well as expansion and renovations to the existing campus.
“Highlands School is a top priority for the school board and the county commission which is why we are celebrating today,” she said. “We have the best teachers, coaches, janitorial and cafeteria staff, principal and assistant principal who deserve to work in a school that will rise to meet their needs and the needs of the students. It doesn’t just take a village. It truly takes an army.”
Board of Education chairman Jim Breedlove spoke of Wilkes before introducing Senator Kevin Corbin saying that students are the most important resource of the county and the nation and “that’s why we do what we do.”
“We are celebrating the advance for these young people to make things better for them and the Highlands community as whole,” he said.
He also praised Wilkes for working so hard to improve the education of all students in Macon County.
“She is the reason we are all here,” he said.
Senator Corbin, who was on the school board when the middle school building was built in 1995, said being at the school Wednesday was like coming full circle.
“I was proud to be involved back in 1995 with the initiation of Macon County Schools’ long-term 25-year plan and I am proud of being here today,” he said. “Macon County and North Carolina are committed to Highlands School for the long-term.”
He said he helped pass a special bill that ensures funding for the three K-12 schools in the state with two of them in Macon County.
“I am proud of this unique school,” he said.
Principal Sarah Holbrooks said she proud to be part of the awesome Highlands community.
“I love my teachers, my students and the community that does so much for us.”
A reception followed the ceremony. It is hoped that the project will be completed by the fall of the 2025-’26 school year.
Pictured at the top of the article from left are Highlands School Asst. Principal Alyssa DeBois, Principal Sarah Holbrooks, MC Commissioners John Shearl, Danny Antoine, Gary Shields, Senator Kevin Corbin, Superintendent Josh Lynch, MC Board members Hilary Wilkes, Jim Breedlove, Stephanie Laseter, and Diedre Breeden.
Highlands School expansion details
Expansion and renovation of Highlands School comes at a cost of $7,983,983, which keeps the project on track for a completion date of fall 2025.
The money will fund the original scope of the project that includes a four-classroom addition, two PreK classroom renovations, three project labs, media center renovation and outdoor classrooms.
The total also covers the completed work of the middle school renovations including replacement of HVAC, roof, windows and flooring in the existing middle school building. In addition, it covers the cost for the steel design and deep foundation required due to the Geotech studies.
The total package also includes necessary projects added to the scope of the original project including intercom, data, security, middle school fire alarm replacement and an emergency radio booster system.
In May and August, commissioners released funding to Vanoy Construction to do some of early procurement work for the deep foundations and structural steel along with the continuation of services to finalize the work required for treatment of a buried oil tank.
These two allocations helped to keep the project on schedule while the county commissioners and school board explored options for the buried fuel tank.
The total cost also includes dealing with the oil tank; whether it needs to be removed or could be filled with cement and left in the ground. The buried oil tank is located outside the footprint of the existing middle school where the new addition will be constructed. The level of contamination was not at actionable levels and did not require any notification to the NC Department of Environmental Quality.
The commissioners and the school board were a couple options for treatment of the oil tank – remove it and treat the area surrounding it, or leave it in the ground.
More scenes from October’s groundbreaking:
