NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The New Hanover County school system is bursting at the seams. Officials say they have about 2,000 students more than they can hold in their facilities, and the number is likely to increase in the future.
Local school officials and teachers sat down with newly elected state representatives Tuesday to educate them on the district's needs and wants.
The school system has cut any and everything they can, and according to Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley, they can't stretch their dollars anymore.
Schools are suffering across the nation because of budget cuts, but Markley said if they trim anymore it will cost the system good teachers and staff.
"It speaks to the economy, it speaks to us as a destination place," explained Markley. "Folks are coming here because they choose to want to be here. I think our school system is part of that driver. You look at our results and we are outperforming the other areas and we're performing well if not better than districts around us."
There are 40 schools in the district ranging from pre-k to high school. They system is currently leasing two buildings to help with space and they are utilizing 80 mobile units.
Since enrollment is expected to continue growing, it's no longer a matter of finding short-term solutions, but the need for new facilities.
Copyright 2013 WECT. All rights reserved.
