Local News

Cumberland County Schools’ $300 million repair plan

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Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Written by Dasia Williams, CityView Today

Cumberland County Schools’ seven-year repair plan outlines approximately $301 million in school facilities needs, with heating and cooling systems, roofs, and electrical work accounting for the largest shares of the list.
The list includes $90.8 million for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; $65.4 million for roofing; $54.8 million for electrical work; $34.9 million for life safety and accessibility, $26.3 million for plumbing; $15.4 million for grounds and landscaping; $10 million for building repairs, including exterior walls, windows, tile, foundations, and stairs; and $3.6 million for equipment such as walk-in refrigerators, bleachers, and press boxes.
The original seven-year maintenance list totaled $314 million, including about $13 million at locations the district groups under central services, such as its operations campus, Education Resource Center, and maintenance warehouse. But those projects were removed from the list so the $301 million in maintenance projects—funded by the county and a $510 million pledge for school construction and maintenance—went toward campuses serving students.
About $28.8 million in projects are complete, underway, or moving through the funding process. That includes $26.4 million in work that is complete or under construction through previously budgeted capital outlay funds, $2.1 million in fire alarm work assigned to county maintenance funds, and roughly $300,000 being handled through other sources.
The school district’s list of projects also identifies about $21.5 million in repairs the district expects to avoid because campuses have closed, properties have been transferred, or buildings are planned for replacement.
During a joint legislative breakfast September 18, district leaders outlined how the school system plans to prioritize, finance, and complete repairs across its campuses. The update covered projects already addressed, work beginning with county funds, and needs expected to receive the greatest attention.
The repair list is part of a broader facilities-planning process involving school closures and consolidations, replacement schools, new construction, and improvements to buildings that will remain in use.
Roofs and Safety First
Excluding central services projects, the seven-year schedule lists about $49.1 million in school facilities work in its first year. The spreadsheet labels projects by plan year but does not identify corresponding calendar or fiscal years. Some of the largest projects are at Luther “Nick” Jeralds Middle, E. Melvin Honeycutt Elementary, Cape Fear High and Douglas Byrd High.
Luther “Nick” Jeralds has about $6.6 million in first-year work, including $2.9 million for metal roofing and $3.1 million for heating and cooling equipment. The assessment identified rusting roof hardware, weathered seals, and equipment that remained functional but had exceeded its expected useful life. The HVAC work is among the projects the district has since addressed through its existing capital outlay budget.
Honeycutt’s first-year estimate is about $3.1 million, including $2.2 million for metal roofing where leaks had been reported. The list also includes about $521,000 for aging fire alarm systems that the assessment recommended replacing or upgrading to meet current safety standards.
Cape Fear and Douglas Byrd each have about $2.7 million in first-year work. At Cape Fear, the assessment recorded evidence of roof leaks and identified an aging fire alarm system. Douglas Byrd’s list includes roofing materials that had exceeded their expected useful life or were considered at risk of failure because of their age.
New Century International Elementary has another $1.7 million listed in the first year for roofing. Although assessors could not access the roof, the assessment notes that leaks had been reported in several places.
The schedule can change as equipment fails or repairs become more urgent. Costs can also change as engineers verify the work and contractors submit bids. The schedule identifies the original intended order of projects, rather than guaranteeing construction prices or completion dates.
The Biggest Repair Bills
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning account for about $90.8 million in the school facilities list, making HVAC the largest category. That includes heating and cooling equipment, packaged units and the controls used to operate the systems.
Roofing follows at $65.4 million, while electrical work totals $54.8 million. The electrical category covers wiring, electrical service and distribution, lighting, generators, and other systems.
Life safety and accessibility work accounts for $34.9 million, covering fire alarm systems, elevators and lifts, fencing, security equipment, and communication systems.
The list includes another $26.3 million for plumbing, $15.4 million for grounds and landscaping, $10 million for building envelope work, and $3.6 million for fixed equipment. Those categories cover repairs ranging from paint, paving, exterior walls, and windows to walk-in refrigerators, bleachers, and press boxes.
Looking Further Ahead
Several high schools account for substantial work in Years 5 and 6. Year 5 includes about $8.2 million at Cape Fear High and $6.6 million at Jack Britt High, where the assessment identified worn, rusted rooftop heating and cooling units.
Pine Forest High has about $9.6 million listed in Year 6, including replacement of aging ductwork, kitchen exhaust equipment, and wiring. That year also includes $9.2 million at South View High and $8.5 million at Terry Sanford High, whose assessment identified worn and leaking distribution pipes, pumps, and fan coil units.
Middle schools account for several of the largest estimates in Year 7, including Pine Forest, with about $8.2 million, and Westover and Spring Lake, with $3.3 million each. Their listed needs include aging mechanical systems, HVAC equipment, and wiring.

(Photo courtesy of Cumberland County Schools)

School board candidates speak at Chamber's Candidate Forum

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Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Written by Aly Hansen

Fourteen of the sixteen candidates running for Cumberland County School Board of Education were present at the Greater Fayetteville Chamber’s Candidate Forum on Oct. 13 at Fayetteville Technical Community College. The candidates are vying for three open seats on the board.
Candidates were broken up into four groups of three and four participants each, and asked two randomly drawn questions a piece about various topics concerning Cumberland County Schools, students, educators and parents. Each candidate had one minute and thirty seconds to answer each of their two questions, and then the group as a whole was asked a “yes” or “no” question at the end of their time. No rebuttals were allowed. The question and answer session provided a platform for the candidates to talk directly to the community.
Group one consisted of Johnathaun Lee, Broxy Pone and Carol Stubbs. Theodore Lee Miller was assigned to this group, but did not make the forum.
Lee answered questions pertaining to retaining educators and making decisions about closing schools.
The board has guidelines regarding school closures, he said. But it goes further than that.
“Is it good for the community, is it good for the students?” he said.
Lee suggested hiring more educators with a specific teaching degree versus what he called “occupation teachers.” Educators who get degrees in teaching know how to handle classrooms, as that is what they are taught to do, he said.
Broxy Pone’s questions revolved around school choice and protecting projects from budget cuts.
“If it’s [school choice] not in every area, it’s not meeting every child's needs,” she said. “Every school should have a choice school and if you can’t put it in every district, there should be one centralized school for all the choices. All schools should be choice schools.”
Pone also suggested reaching out for additional sources of funding, and not just staying within Cumberland County to raise money for the school system.
“Everyone should invest in the child because the child creates the community,” she said.
Carol Stubbs’ questions were regarding access to bilingual teachers and school safety. Stubbs suggested reaching out to universities and colleges in the area and finding bilingual teachers among those populations.
As for school safety, she stressed the need for trust within the system, saying that when trust is present, both the parents and the students can be more open about problems and will feel more supported by school administrators.
“We have to look at all the bullying going on in the school system,” she said.
The “yes” or “no” question posed to group one was: Do you support the board’s recent decision to close community elementary schools like J.W. Coon and Manchester?
Lee said yes, while both Stubbs and Pone said no.
Group two consisted of candidates Rebecca West, Keith Byrd, Quincei Lovejoy and Tom Hatch.
West answered questions about school maintenance funding and chronic absenteeism. She stressed the potential waste within the system, noting the need for an audit. West also mentioned reaching out to other avenues for raising funds for schools.
West mentioned she believed absenteeism was chronic because education is no longer valued by students or parents, and this can create issues in the classroom.
“Families are taking their children to charter schools or private schools or homeschooling because they feel their needs aren’t being met in our public schools,” she said.
Byrd answered questions about career focused curriculum and funding mental health programs within the school system now that COVID funds for those programs have run out.
“We want to make sure we don’t do the things we've done, like close down the school of choice. That’s what we’ve done. We took that choice away from parents and from year-round students,” he said.
Byrd also mentioned that he believed funds were being misused.
“We need to stop wasting money,” he said.
Lovejoy answered questions regarding changes to specialized academic programs and what to do with closed school properties. She stated she was “totally against” school closures, and that the community needed to be more involved in these decisions.
“We’ve been very critical of the schools for not giving a plan of action in consolidating and relocating schools. I am a finance professional and have been for ten years. I could not look at that spreadsheet in a day and understand it. They [the school board] looked at it and decided within an hour or two to close the schools, and that’s a problem. We need to be talking to the community and reviewing the data, having the time to digest it and coming up with a plan of action,” she said.
Hatch’s questions centered around teacher attrition and morale, and the responsibility of the school system regarding cyberbullying. He spoke about having trust between principals, teachers, parents and students. Having an open door policy, especially between the principal and educators, helps to foster an environment of trust, he said. The principal needs to be visible within the school and be an active member of decision making.
“We’ve got to, as board members, make sure that we are including principals in decisions and we need to include our students and parents and community in these decisions,” he said.
The question put forth to the whole group was: Do you agree with the superintendent’s new policy restricting employees and students from using smart glasses or AI recording eyewear on campus?
All four answered “yes.”
Chris Young, Bryan Moore, Franklin Crockett and Jacquelyn Brown made up group three.
Young was asked about school closures and student redistribution, and keeping quality educators within the school system. He stressed the need for transparency in decision making, saying the school system is the heart of the community in Cumberland County.
“If you aren’t bringing the men and women and students who live in the community to the discussion, you are failing that community,” he said. “You get input before you make the decision; you get feedback after you make the decision.”
Moore’s questions focused on school facility investment and standardized testing. Moore talked about fundraising in a similar manner to universities and colleges, by asking local businesses to sponsor and support the students and, in exchange, have their names on buildings on campuses.
In his answer regarding standardized testing, Moore tied in chronic absenteeism.
“I think one reason we have such an absentee problem is because we have a fear of taking a test problem,” he said. “They have a chance to succeed in this world; throwing a test at them won’t determine that.”
Crockett answered questions about special academic opportunities and where to make cuts if needed to balance the Cumberland County School budget. He focused on how important it was to make sure the student who is taking part in a special academic opportunity is the one who really needs it.
“The kids want to do a choice program and then decide a few weeks later they are done with it, which uses the slot until the next semester,” he said.
Crockett also mentioned how important it was to keep school administrators and teachers in the loop with regard to cutting programs and departments.
“I would go into the schools and find out what is really going on and let them know what is going on as well so they aren’t blindsided,” he said. “We are all one team.”
Incumbent Jacquelyn Brown’s questions regarded immersion programs and allowing smart glasses in schools.
“We look at how many students benefit from that program,” she said. “[There are] 85 schools in Cumberland County, and we have to serve everyone.”
Brown said the restriction on smart glasses actually comes down from the state, and it is up to the board and the schools to implement that policy. If everyone were good and could use the technology for good, she said, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“We have those policies in place for those who aren’t good,” she said.
The “yes” or “no” question for group three was: Do you support relocation or modifying choice programs such as Spanish immersion to help address under enrollment at certain schools?
Young and Crockett answered “yes,” while Moore and Brown said “no.”
Demetrius Stocks, Bradley Williams and Robin Chadwick made up the final group. Karelle Ward was not present at the forum.
Stocks’ questions pertained to transparency in tax expenditure, and the possibility of the Cumberland County School Board declining funding.
Stocks said he found the question of funding to be more related to students’ safety, especially regarding the upkeep of schools.
“Every student should be able to walk into a school that is safe,” he said. “We need to make sure we have a strategic plan for those affected students, either building a new school or relocating them.”
He also spoke about the need to have an audit completed on CCS spending and focusing on where the cuts are being made.
“When we talk about cuts, we also end up with the teachers that are getting the cuts, or the staff. But we never talk about what is happening up at the top,” he said.
Williams answered questions regarding choice program relocation and military connected families and students. He focused on the need to prepare students for a successful life, and that included financial literacy and AI readiness.
“They need to learn how to pay their taxes, invest in stocks… We need to look and make sure they have every resource available to help prepare for life, not just for graduation,” he said.
He also stressed the need to continue making Cumberland County an attractive landing place for military families to grow in, and hopefully stay.
Chadwick was the final candidate of the night to speak, and her questions centered around language immersion and mental health. She focused on the need for equity within schools, allowing for kids to have the same opportunities in languages and other specialized education classes.
“We need to make sure all children have the same access, and until every school has the same access, no child should be left behind,” she said.
As a teacher, she spoke about the need to have more mental health professionals available to students, noting that school social workers often have five or more schools under their care, and cannot possibly visit all of those students in a meaningful way.
“We need to help the kids. Hire the right people for the right places,” she said.
The “yes” or “no” question for this final group was: Will you advocate for a formal local supplemental increase to stay competitive with neighboring districts?
Stocks, Williams and Chadwick all answered yes.
The Greater Fayetteville Chamber’s Candidate Forum was attended by about 100 members of the community and gave platforms to candidates in all races in Cumberland County. For over two hours, candidates gave their answers to questions and debated on the stage at FTCC. To watch the entire forum, including state representative candidates, Cumberland County Board of Commissioners candidates, and the entirety of the CCS Board answers, visit https://www.youtube.com/live/wcpeqjWXKH0?t=3464s
Election Day is Nov. 3. For all information and updates about voting in Cumberland County, visit https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/election-group/elections

(Photo:The Greater Fayetteville Chamber's Candidate Forum brought the candidates to the community. (Photos courtesy of Greater Fayetteville Chamber's Facebook page)

Fort Bragg opens Children’s Waiting Room to help families prioritize health

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Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Written by Lauren Reho, Ft. Bragg Garrison Public Affairs

For military parents, making a medical appointment can sometimes require solving another problem first: finding someone to care for their children.
A new Children’s Waiting Room at Fort Bragg aims to remove that barrier by providing no-fee childcare for eligible Families while parents attend medical appointments at Womack Army Medical Center or installation health clinics.
The Armed Services YMCA officially opened the new location Oct. 1 at the Laredo Child Development Center, marking the return of a program designed to make accessing health care easier for military Families in the community.
“What a fun week at Fort Bragg,” Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson said. “I wish every week could include three ribbon cuttings: the opening of Fort Bragg’s first campus-style dining venue– Rally Point Bistro, the grand opening of the newly revitalized Pope Historic Housing and the Armed Services YMCA's newest Children’s Waiting Room."
For Anderson, this celebration represented more than opening another facility. It highlighted Fort Bragg’s commitment to improving quality of life and supporting military Families.
The Children’s Waiting Room gives parents a safe place to leave their children during appointments, allowing them to focus on their own health without the added concern of finding or paying for childcare.
“Balancing care for young children while trying to focus on personal health and medical care isn’t easy,” Jeremy Hester, Executive Director for the ASYMCA, Fort Bragg, said. “Too often, a lack of accessible childcare becomes a major barrier to receiving timely healthcare or making it to scheduled appointments.”
This concept is not new to Fort Bragg. A Children’s Waiting Room previously opened at Womack and other installation health clinics in 2018, but those locations closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The need, however, remained.
Over the following years, the ASYMCA worked with Fort Bragg leadership to identify an opportunity to bring the program back to the installation. Coordination between installation leadership, Womack Army Medical Center and Child and Youth Services ultimately helped secure a location for the program.
“Their passion for serving our military Families during their health journeys made it possible for the ASYMCA to provide this existing program on the installation,” Hester said.
Unlike traditional childcare, the Children’s Waiting Room is offered at no cost to military ID card holders attending health appointments at Womack or installation clinics. The Fort Bragg location serves children ages 12 months to 12 years and offers up to two hours of care per appointment.
The program operates Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the final appointment beginning at 2 p.m. Nine childcare appointment slots are available each hour.
Parents must first complete an online registration, including required personal information and waivers. Once registered, Families can reserve a specific appointment time. The program follows the safety protocols used by Fort Bragg Child and Youth Services child development centers.
The Children’s Waiting Room is part of a broader ASYMCA program currently offered across 15 military installations. According to the organization, health facilities associated with the program have reported a 35% decrease in missed appointments, no-shows and cancellations.
“We’re so excited to have a place here on the installation that offers free childcare during medical appointments,” Lou Anderson, wife of Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson, said. “As a mother of three, I know how difficult it can be to make it to appointments when you also have to find childcare. It’s great to see this investment in our community.”
Anderson also recognized ASYMCA leadership for helping make the program possible. “I’ve never seen a nonprofit director with the kind of passion Jeremy Hester has for serving our community,” she said.
For Fort Bragg, the ASYMCA team hopes the impact extends beyond making individual appointments easier to attend. For military parents, that support can be as simple as knowing that when it is time to take care of their own health, their children have a safe place to go.
“We hope this program will help make health a priority for our military Families,” Hester said. “We hope it reduces the number of missed or cancelled appointments over the next year. Finally, we hope to contribute to the overall readiness of Service Members by taking care of their Families.”
The Children’s Waiting Room is located at Laredo Child Development Center, Building 401 on Stiner Road. Families can find additional information and register through the ASYMCA’s Fort Bragg Children’s Waiting Room webpage.

(For military parents, making a medical appointment can sometimes require solving another problem first: finding someone to care for their children. A new Children’s Waiting Room at Fort Bragg aims to remove that barrier by providing no-fee childcare for eligible Families while parents attend medical appointments at Womack Army Medical Center or installation health clinics. The Armed Services YMCA officially opened the new location Oct. 1 at the Laredo Child Development Center, marking the return of a program designed to make accessing health care easier for military Families in the community. Photo by Lauren Reho, Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs) 

Fayetteville Rotary Club announces big plans for 27th annual Christmas Parade

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Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Written by Staff Report

The 27th Annual Fayetteville Rotary Club Christmas Parade returns to downtown Fayetteville on Saturday, Dec. 12th, to celebrate the holiday season. It will be led by 2026 Grand Marshal, Fayetteville native, Gavin Williams, starting Major League Baseball pitcher for Cleveland Guardians, the 2026 American League Central Division champions.
“There’s nothing quite like seeing downtown Fayetteville come alive with holiday spirit, and we’re excited to once again bring families together for the Rotary Christmas Parade," said Brandon Price, Rotary Christmas Parade Chair. "The parade continues to create lasting memories for generations, and we look forward to celebrating the season with our community and showcasing our outstanding residents and organizations, including this year's Grand Marshal, Gavin Williams."
Williams, a graduate of Cape Fear High School and East Carolina University, was Cleveland’s 2021 1st Round draft pick. Since making his MLB debut in 2023, Williams has 32 career wins, with a 14-8 record this season. In 11 of his 28 regular season appearances, Williams recorded double-digit strikeouts and finished the 2026 regular season leading the American League with 248 strikeouts.
In the Guardians post-season playoff game against the Chicago WhiteSox on Oct. 5th, Williams finished with 11 Ks, tied for second-most in Guardians postseason history.
Along with the Grand Marshal, entries in this year’s parade will include local marching bands, dance groups, motorcycles, horses and everyone’s favorite, Santa Claus. Also featured will be Rotary International District #7730 Governor, Shawn Braswell and Ville City Jeeps, Fayetteville’s local jeep community and the parade’s official safety partners since 2022.
The safety partners lineup between walking entries (such as dance teams, youth groups, and bands) and vehicle units. Their presence creates a protective buffer ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for more than 1,000 walking participants in the parade.
“Rotary is built on the belief that strong communities are created when people come together to serve, connect, and support one another,” said Joel Valley, 2026-27 Fayetteville Rotary Club President. “The Rotary Christmas Parade is one of the most special ways we bring that spirit to life. Seeing families line the streets, neighbors reconnect, and children experience the joy of the season reminds us of the power of coming together. We’re proud to continue this tradition and share the warmth and goodwill of the holidays with our community.”
Solely funded and organized by the Rotary Club of Fayetteville since 1999, the parade is a cherished holiday tradition. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Person Street and Liberty Point, travel around the Market House and up Hay Street to Pittman Street.
Applications for the 2026 parade are now available and will be accepted until the parade lineup reaches capacity. Applications are available at https://www.rotarychristmasparade.com/.

About Fayetteville Rotary Club

The Fayetteville Rotary Club was formed in 1920 and comes under Rotary International’s District 7730. Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 29,000 Rotary clubs in 161 countries. The Christmas Parade is one of several annual service projects that benefit the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community along with the Walker Classic Annual Family Golf Tournament which raises funds to support other community service projects and non-profit organizations.

(Photo: Cleveland Guardian pitcher and Fayetteville native Gavin Williams will be the Grand Marshall of the Fayetteville Rotary Club's 27th annual Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville Rotary Club)