The school bond results are in...

School bond referendum results are in...

The $134 million bond referendum to address aging facilities and replace current buildings at East Elementary and Forest Hills High passed with 62 (61.96%) percent of citizens voting yes. This data was reported on the Union County Board of Elections website with 52 out of 52 precincts reporting.

Development for the new schools will begin this spring. The design process will be complete in early winter and construction is expected to start by the summer of 2023. Both East Elementary and Forest Hills High will have a Project Advisory Team that includes parents, teachers, students and community members. The teams will be an active part of the design and construction phases of the projects.

For more information, visit www.ucps.k12.nc.us/bond2022.

Thank you Union County voters!

“I want to thank Union County residents for supporting this bond. Replacing East Elementary and Forest Hills High will allow us to provide modern facilities for our students and staff that will align with current instructional programs. In addition, the new schools will have innovative classroom space, expanded dining areas, updated media centers and teacher workrooms.”

-Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan

Highlights of the projects

East Elementary

Approximately $38,592,589 (includes design cost)

The original building is 70 years old.
The existing building will be demolished.
The new school will be built on the same property.
The new school will be a two-story facility.
Architectural features include additional Pre-K classrooms, a flexible multi-purpose gym, expanded dining space, collaboration areas, more energy-efficient building, improved safety with more on-site parking.

Forest Hills High

Approximately $95,812,411 (includes design cost)

The school is 60 years old.
The current building is inadequate for a modern-day high school.
The new school will be a two-story facility.
Architectural features include a new auditorium, an expanded dining room area, updated teacher workrooms, a modern media center with collaboration space, a multi-purpose auxiliary gym, a new weight room, and new arts and band spaces.
All instruction and school-day activities will be in one building.