By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – The Brunswick County School Board voted last night to approve a building contract for a new middle school.
The new Holden Beach Middle School will cost $14.5 million. Brunswick County's Shallotte Middle School is already over capacity.
Board members disagreed on whether the contract should be awarded during the meeting without first being examined by committee.
Board member Jimmy Hobbs says Brunswick County residents have waited too long for the new middle school.
"We didn't need to wait. If we had waited, my opinion is, the school would not have opened in August of 2009, it would have been August of 2010. And we couldn't afford that."
Board Member Ray Gilbert disagrees. He says waiting would have helped the board make an informed decision and avoid hidden costs later on.
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