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New Southwest Elementary Is Among $67 Million In CMS Construction Awards

Artist's rendering of new southwest elementary school.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board approved $67 million in construction contracts Tuesday, including $24 million to build a new elementary school in southwest Charlotte.

The 45-classroom school is expected to open in August 2021 and pull students from Nations Ford, Sterling and Steele Creek elementaries. The contract went to MetCon Inc.

Other contracts approved are:

  • $26 million to New Atlantic Contracting to build a new 45-classroom building for Briarwood Academy. The elementary school in northeast Charlotte had about 670 students last year.
  • $9 million to Barnhill / D.A. Everett to build a new gymnasium and demolish old buildings at West Mecklenburg High.
  • $7.5 million to Samet Corp. to build a 16-classroom addition and expand the cafeteria at Sharon Elementary in south Charlotte, which had about 950 students last year.

All the projects were part of the $922 million school bond package voters approved in 2017 and are scheduled for completion by August 2021. Dennis LaCaria, a construction consultant to CMS, said "current realities," including the coronavirus pandemic, put some projects at risk of running late.

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Ann Doss Helms has covered education in the Charlotte area for over 20 years, first at The Charlotte Observer and then at WFAE. Reach her at ahelms@wfae.org or 704-926-3859.