Wayne schools will use $15 million lottery-funded grant to build new school

Wayne County Public Schools will use a $15 million grant, funded through lottery sales, to build a new school. | Stock Photo

By James Ledbetter

Nov 16, 2020

Wayne County Public Schools can "dream a little" bigger after being awarded millions of dollars in grants that it will use to build a new school.

The financial support comes from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, which is raised through NC Education Lottery ticket sales, lottery officials said in a Nov. 6 release. Through the program, the Wayne district will receive $15 million.

The county district intends to use the funding to help cover the cost of building a new school to replace the approximately 100-year-old Fremont Elementary School.

"Building a new Fremont Elementary is and has been a joint effort by many people who have a vision for Wayne County Public Schools," Wayne County Board of Education Chairman Don Christopher West said in a district release in October.

According to the district, Fremont school was built in 1923. Construction on the new school is anticipated to start in mid-2021 and finish in 2023. The district also said the capacity at the new school would be able to hold approximately 600 students.

"Providing our children with safe facilities continues to be a priority of the Board of Commissioners," Wayne County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Joe Daughtery said in the release.

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