North Carolina high school athletic departments around the state are getting a facelift. The new state budget devotes tens of millions of dollars to facility upgrades in 18 school districts, according to HighSchoolOT.
In total, $62.8 million of the $30 billion state budget will go to these projects.
The highest amount awarded to one district is $14.5 million, for which Mitchell County Schools will build an auxiliary gym and wrestling facility, a new softball field, and upgrade other areas, including lights on baseball and softball fields and resurfacing the track, according to HighSchoolOT.
Several of the school districts analyzed by the outlet will be upgrading their lighting systems. Lincoln County Schools, for instance, will install industrial LED lights at sports fields at four different schools with a portion of its $6 million funding. Union County Schools will install lighting equipment at a school’s baseball field, while Nash County Schools will install soccer field lights at a high school.
Other frequent projects include turf fields and bleacher upgrades. Wilkes County Schools, which received over $9 million, is providing renovations at four schools for projects ranging from upgrades to turf, field house and restroom facilities to renovations of the softball field and tennis court.
Get a deep dive into the spending with some statements from districts at HighSchoolOT.