Central Carolina Academy held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday afternoon, September 18, 2022. The event celebrated the opening of Lee County’s newest public charter school and the conclusion of phase one of the campus renovation project. Currently, classrooms occupy the third floor of the building. The full project is scheduled for completion in a year. The school enrollment will grow in the next few years to over 660 students in grades 6-12.
Superintendent Dr. John Eldridge, Central Carolina Academy Board President Bill Haiges, and Lead Administrator Greg Batten acknowledged state education and local government officials, individuals instrumental in the creation of the school, staff, and families in their remarks. They also recognized academic and construction partners as well as Chatham Charter, from which Central Carolina is replicated.
Architect Tony Chilton of North State Design Group, highlighted the value of school leaders choosing to repurpose a business office into an education facility.
“The long lead times for product availability brought on by COVID mostly turned out to be a blessing. It helped you to become better stewards than you already are with regards to the environment and nature, economics, property, government, infrastructure, and even a certain amount of resources by preserving The Pantry’s history in Sanford and Lee County,” commented Chilton.
Jesse Shetler, President of Performance Charter School Development, noted that phase one of the renovation finished ahead of the anticipated October schedule.
The final portion of the ceremony was a ceremonial groundbreaking to signify the beginning of phase two of renovation. Work on the first and second floors as well as a re-roof will begin soon. Lee Cook, Executive Vice President of Omega Construction, spearheaded the groundbreaking.
Guests were invited to tour the third floor and visit classrooms after the ceremony.