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The consensus of the Stanly County Board of Education at Wednesday’s facilities work session included plans for two new high schools.

At the work session, the board agreed Stanly County Schools needs two new high schools, one in the southern and western areas and the other in the northern/eastern part of the county.

“I feel like we are all in agreement we have two high schools,” Chairperson Glenda Gibson said.

The board also spoke at length regarding the possibility of building a new Oakboro elementary school and redistricting lines to pull some students from Stanfield and Locust.

A bond for the two new high schools could be ready in time for voters to decide on it during the 2024 election.

The board discussed many ideas for the projected shortage of classroom space in Albemarle and the western end of the county. No consensus came from the discussions, but Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis said he and Keith Benton, the new maintenance director for SCS, will do further research to see what needs to be done.

Information received by the school board at a recent joint meeting with the Albemarle City Council raised concerns regarding possible overcrowding in the future with the city’s projections on new housing construction. According to the information, Albemarle may see as many as 4,000 new residences. While some are senior apartments, most discussed were new housing developments.

Possible changes the board discussed included moving students from current middle school facilities to the high school facilities while converting the middle schools into K-5 schools.