The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) announced today that more than two dozen school districts across North Carolina will share nearly $400 million in new state lottery-funded grant awards for school construction, renovation projects and other capital improvements. Of that amount, Warren County Schools were awarded $24 million to use towards the creation of a new elementary school.

The grants, awarded under the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, represent the largest annual allocation under the program, created by the General Assembly in 2017 from state lottery revenues. The grants are in addition to the state’s lottery-supported Public School Building Capital Fund, from which all districts receive an allocation each year.

Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery, said support for school construction has been part of the lottery since it started in 2006.

“These grants announced today by state school Superintendent Catherine Truitt represent the latest and largest investment of those monies so far,” Michalko said. “Our state Department of Public Instruction, working in partnership with counties all across our state, is putting this money to work for a great cause. We look forward to seeing all these new schools opening soon.”

“This needs-based grant will change the face of education in Warren County. As a small, economically disadvantaged, rural community, it’s nearly impossible for us to secure that much funding on our own to invest in creating inviting schools designed to meet existing technology demands and educational best practices. Our students in Warren County Schools deserve to have the same resources and inspiring learning environments as public school students from wealthier communities in our state.” – Superintendent Keith Sutton of Warren County Schools

DPI notified Warren County Schools last week that they were awarded the grant.

At press time, there’s no timeline for the project.

Source: NC DPI Press Release