BY KARISSA MILLER
School board members, local leaders and community members gathered Tuesday to break ground on the new Parkertown Elementary School.
According to school officials, the project has been years in the making and is a critical step in keeping pace with the continued growth in southern Iredell County.
Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Jeff James thanked attendees for being part of the ceremony. He expressed appreciation for the strong collaboration between ADW Architects and JM Cope Construction in bringing the project to life.
“It took vision from I-SS, the county commissioners and other entities in this county to make this happen. We worked together,” James said. “It’s an exciting time for the county for us to be growing and building new schools.”
“This school is an investment in our future. This is where lives will hopefully change,” added I-SS Board of Education Aciting Chairman Doug Knight.
Iredell County Commissioner Gene Houpe recognized the facilities task force, Our Schools First and previous commissioners for their support in the project.
“We’re a growing county — about 250,000 people and increasing every day — and planning ahead is how we stay competitive,” Houpe said.
The new elementary school, which will be located at 218 Parkertown Road in Mooresville, will have a capacity of 720 students. It is expected to be open in the fall of 2027. The school will feature a gymnasium, media center and modern classrooms.
Officials emphasized that the project represents collaboration among the school district, county commissioners and construction partners.
“We worked together to build something that fits not just today, but the future,” said JM Cope Construction Executive Vice President Chad Webb.
The need for a new elementary school has become increasingly urgent as residential development continues in the area. School officials noted that without long-term planning, existing schools would struggle to keep up.
“Future enrollment makes this school imperative,” James explained.
Ken Robertson, a former county commissioner, was among those who attended the ceremony. Parkertown will be the first school to be built in Iredell County using cash instead of relying on a bond.
“That, in itself, is something to celebrate,” he said. “The county set aside a little at a time so we wouldn’t have to borrow or do a GO (General Obligation) Bond to build a school.”
I-SS is using Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) as the project delivery method, which involves hiring a construction manager early in the design phase to oversee the project. The CMAR is financially responsible for any costs that exceed the Guaranteed Maximum Price.
The Guaranteed Maximum Price is $52 million. This price includes technology, furniture, fixtures and equipment, officials stated.
Next Steps
Next steps include decisions on school features, colors and even the mascot.
The district is working with Western Piedmont Council of Governments on the redistricting process to determine which students will attend Parkertown Elementary. Students from Troutman and Shepherd elementary schools will likely be eligible to attend the school, according to preliminary maps.