FREMONT – Thursday was a special day for Wayne County Public Schools, Wayne County Government, and the Town of Fremont with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fremont Elementary. Dozens of elected officials, dignitaries, invited guests, local leaders, and members of the public came together for the historic event.
“I sincerely appreciate my colleagues on the Wayne County Board of Education, and those who sit on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners and the Fremont Town Council, “said Board of Education Chair Don Christopher West. “A project like this requires a lot of planning and collaboration. We could not have reached this groundbreaking event without their collaborative support.”
During the ceremony, both Chair West and Wayne County Board of Commissioners Chair Joe Daughtery took a moment to recognize the late Ray Mayo. Both expressed that the former District 1 representative for the Board of Commissioners was instrumental in building vision, support, and understanding for why a northern-end elementary school was needed and why Fremont was the right location for it to be built.
The two Chairs also recognized the local delegate from the North Carolina General Assembly – which includes Representative John Bell, Senator Jim Perry, Representative Raymond Smith, Jr., Representative Jimmy Dixon, and Senator Don Davis – for their support in helping Wayne County receive additional funding beyond what it originally received in 2020 to help build the school.
“While this has truly been a team effort, this project is not about us,” states Chair Daughtery. “This project is about the students. It is about the future of Wayne County. Everyone who has been involved recognizes that the new Fremont Elementary will benefit countless students and families in Northern Wayne County for decades to come. We look forward to the day when this school is completed and we can fill its classrooms with students who are eager to receive their education in this state of the art school.”
Wayne County has received $30 million in grant funding through the Needs-Based Public School Grant Funds for the construction of this school. In addition to this funding, Wayne County is no longer required to forfeit lottery funds for a period of five years. This will save the County approximately $6 million over the next five years.
The new Fremont Elementary will have the same design as the recently built Meadow Lane Elementary. It is important to note that the school will be able to accommodate more than three times as many students as the current school of approximately 200 students, which will be vital for helping address K-3 class-size needs in Northern Wayne County. It will also have energy efficient HVAC systems, upgraded furniture and technology, and advanced safety and security features. The school will be completed in 2024.
