School Bonds Update

  • Thank you, Gaston County, for supporting our schools! 

    The $250 million school bond referendum was approved during the primary election on May 8, 2018 with more than 69 percent of the vote in favor.

    Periodically, we will post updates on this webpage as we put the bond funds to good use to improve school facilities for students, teachers, and our community.

  • Current and Completed Projects

    Take a look at the charts below for a list of our current and completed projects.

Current Projects

Location Repairs and Renovations Project Scope Status
Ashbrook High School Drainage Drainage In Process
Ashbrook High School Boiler Room Boiler Room In Process
Beam Elementary Gym Replace carpet flooring with hardwoods Completed
Beam Intermediate Life Safety Life Safety In Process
Bessemer City Central Elementary Life Safety Life Safety In Process
Bessemer City Primary Life Safety Life Safety In Process
Brookside Elementary Life Safety Generator Replacement In Process
Carr Elementary School Life Safety Intercom replacement, camera, access control and door hardware upgrades In Process
Chapel Grove Elementary Gym Replace carpet flooring with hardwoods In Process
Cherryville High School Lighting LED In process
Cramerton Middle School Life Safety Generator Replacement In Process
East Gaston High School Boiler Room Boiler Room In Process
Grier Middle New School Replace current school In Process
Highland School of Technology Lighting LED In Process
Hunter Huss High School LED Lighting In Process
Kiser Elementary Boiler Room Boiler Room In Process
Kiser Elementary Roof Replacement Roof Replacement In Process
Kiser Elementary Gym Replace carpet flooring with hardwoods In Process
Lingerfeldt Elementary Gym Replace carpet flooring with hardwoods Completed
Mount Holly Middle School Roof Replacement Roofing Replacement In Process
New Hope Elementary Life Safety Intercom replacement, camera, access control and door hardware upgrades In Process
North Gaston High School LED Lighting In Process
North Gaston High School Drainage Drainage In Process
Pinewood Elementary Roof Replacement Roof Replacement In Progress
Rankin Elementary Drainage Drainage In Process

Completed Projects

Location Repairs and Renovations Project Scope Status
Ashbrook High School Structural Repairs Repairs to Visitor Bleachers Complete
Ashbrook High School Structural Repairs Facade Complete
Ashbrook High School Lighting LED Complete
Belmont Middle School New School New school to replace former school built 80 years ago (oldest in county) Complete
Bessemer City High School Electrical Upgraded wiring to support HVAC Complete
Bessemer City High School Lights LED Lighting - Multi-stage project. 100 hall complete. Complete
Bessemer City High School HVAC Upgrades to 200 hall Complete
Bessemer City Middle School Life Safety Elevator Renovation Complete
Brookside Elementary Roof Replacement Roof Replacement Complete
Brookside Elementary Life Safety Generator Replacement Complete
Carr Elementary School Asphalt Replacement Asphalt Replacement Complete
Chavis Middle School Athletic Facilities Replacement of gym floor Complete
Chavis Middle School Electrical/Lighting LED lighting Complete
Cherryville Elementary School Parking Lots/Driveway Parking Lot/Asphalt Replacement Complete
Cherryville High School Asphalt Replacement Asphalt Replacement Complete
Costner Elementary School HVAC BAS Upgrades Complete
Costner Elementary School Life Safety Fencing Complete
Cramerton Middle School HVAC Replace Chiller Complete
Cramerton Middle School Life Safety Generator Replacement Complete
East Gaston High School Lighting LED Complete
East Gaston High School Structural Repairs Facade Complete
East Gaston High School Elevator Elevator Modernization Complete
East Gaston High School Roof Replacement Roofing Replacement Complete
Forestview High School Life Safety Generator Replacement Complete
Grier Middle School Driveway Asphalt replacement Complete

IN PICTURES: Summer Projects

IN PICTURES: School Bond Projects

OVERVIEW: How will the bonds be used to improve our schools?

  • On Tuesday, May 8, 2018, the citizens of Gaston County had the opportunity to vote on a $250 million school bond referendum.  The referendum was approved by voters with more than 69 percent of the vote.

    The funds will be used to address critical needs in three categories:

    • New School Construction: $110 million
    • School Additions: $25 million
    • Renovations and Repairs: $115 million

    New School Construction: $110 million

    • $30 million to build a new elementary school in the southeast Gastonia area to accommodate future growth and alleviate the potential for overcrowding. The southeast quadrant of the county has been identified as an area for significant population growth.
    • $40 million to build a new middle school in Belmont (the new school will replace the old Belmont Middle School building).
    • $40 million to build a new middle school that would replace one of our old middle schools and be built to accommodate growth.

    School Additions: $25 million

    • Classroom additions
    • Expansion and renovation of media centers and cafeterias

    Renovations and Repairs: $115 million
    Funds designated for schools in all six townships based on the critical facility needs in each township:

    The funds will address the most critical renovations and repairs in the following areas:

    • Life Safety (cameras, intercoms, and alarms)
    • HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
    • Electrical/Lighting
    • Water/Sewer/Gas Lines
    • Plumbing
    • Roof Replacement
    • Structural Repairs
    • Athletic Facilities
    • Doors/Windows
    • Parking Lots/Driveways
    • Environmental
    • Elevators
    • Restrooms
    • ADA Compliance

VIDEO: Information about School Bonds

WORK IN PROGRESS: A new campus for W.P. Grier Middle School

  • A concept drawing of the new Grier Middle School.

    Construction is moving along nicely on the new W.P. Grier Middle School, and when the school opens in August 2025, we will have a beautiful new school campus in the heart of Gastonia.

    Click here for pictures and videos of the construction.

    Click here and click here for articles about the groundbreaking ceremony, which was held on October 3, 2023.

    Click here for a feature article about the transformation of the W.P. Grier Middle School campus.

    Click here to watch the groundbreaking ceremony video.

    Click here for our news article about the groundbreaking ceremony.

    Click here for pictures of the topping out event in April 2024. Students and staff were given an opportunity to sign their name on the last beam before it was hoisted into place, signifying the finish of the structure.

IN REVIEW: Second Allocation of School Bond Funds

  • On August 16, 2021, the Board of Education approved a resolution that asks the county to allocate additional funds from the $250 million school bond referendum that was approved by voters in May 2018. 

    The additional funds would allow the school district to continue its efforts to address critical school facility needs (new construction, repairs, renovations, etc.) across the county.  The resolution includes the intention of the Board for the construction of a new Grier Middle School.

    In November 2018, the county allocated $60 million in school bond funds.  The first allocation included approximately $36.5 million for the construction of Belmont Middle School and approximately $23.5 million for school renovations/repairs.  The resolution approved on August 16, 2021 is in relation to a second allocation of school bond funds.

    Click here to watch the presentation to the Board of Education.

    Click here to read the “Resolution to Request Approval and Appropriation of 2018 School Bond Funds for Gaston County Schools.”

    Click here for an article about our summer 2021 construction and renovation projects.

    Click here to watch the presentation to the Board of Education for information about school libraries/media centers.

IN REVIEW: Belmont Middle School

  • Belmont Middle School rendering

    The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Belmont Middle School was held on March 25, 2019, and the grand opening celebration was held on August 15, 2021.

    Click here to watch the the grand opening celebration video.

    Click here for our news article about the grand opening celebration.

    Click here to watch the groundbreaking ceremony video.

    Click here for our news article about the groundbreaking ceremony.

    Click here for our news article about construction progress.

    Click here for a slideshow of construction pictures.

    Click here to watch our "GCS Quick Clip" video from August 2020.

    Click here to watch our "GCS Quick Clip" video from July 2021.

    Click here to visit the architect’s website.

IN REVIEW: Facade Projects

  • Ashbrook High School

    Click here to read our news article from August 2020.

    Click here to see before and after pictures of the Ashbrook High School facade project.

    Click here to see before and after pictures of the East Gaston High School facade project.

    Click here to see before and after pictures of the South Point High School facade project.

    Click here for pictures of the North Gaston High School facade project.

  • IN REVIEW: School bonds approved; first steps taken toward new middle school in Belmont

    October 15, 2018
    The Gaston County Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the construction bid from Beam Construction Company for the new Belmont Middle School.  Click here to watch the presentation to the Board of Education.  Click here for our news article.

    August 20, 2018
    The Board of Education heard a presentation from LS3P Architects about the planning and design of the new Belmont Middle School.  Click here to watch the presentation to the Board of Education.

    June 12, 2018
    As part of the 2018-2019 county budget, the Gaston County Commissioners approved the issuance of $60 million in school bonds.  The $60 million will be used to build a new Belmont Middle School (to replace the current Belmont Middle School building that is more than 80 years old) and to begin addressing some of our most critical facility needs and repairs.  Click here for an article from The Gaston Gazette.

    May 22, 2018
    Following approval of the school bond referendum, the Board of Education and the Gaston County Commissioners conducted a meeting to discuss the 2018-2019 local budget for Gaston County Schools, the 2018 school bonds, and the one-quarter of a cent sales tax.  Both the school bonds and sales tax (to help pay for the bonds) were approved by voters during the May 8 primary election.  Click here for an article from The Gaston Gazette.

News Archive

  • Click here for an article about summer 2021 construction and renovation projects.

    Click here and click here for articles about the Belmont Middle School grand opening celebration.

    Click here for an article about summer 2020 construction and renovation projects.

    Click here for an article about construction progress for Belmont Middle School.

    Click here and click here for articles about the Belmont Middle School groundbreaking ceremony.