By Miles Layton

COLUMBIA — After an extensive review process that included interviews, site visits and a detailed scoring system, the Tyrrell County Board of Education unanimously voted Feb. 18 to enter into a contract with Hite Associates, in partnership with WIMCO Corporation, to design and construct the district’s new PK–13 school facility.

The decision follows the district’s November 2025 award of a $62 million capital needs grant to support consolidation of existing schools and construction of a modern campus to serve students countywide. Construction is expected to be completed in 2029.

Superintendent Brianna Williams called the vote a major step forward for Tyrrell County.

“We look forward to our community input and feedback during the development and design process. We will be calling and reaching out to our community,” Williams said.

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Board Chairperson Joni Liverman emphasized that fiscal responsibility and long-term value drove her support for Hite.

“This is an exciting time for our district, and the positive impact of this project will serve our community long after we are both gone,” Liverman said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to share why I support the selection of Hite Architecture Firm.”

Liverman said the board was clear from the outset that the project must not exceed the $62 million grant.

“We have been clear from the beginning that this project cannot exceed the approved budget by even one penny,” she said. “Mr. Jimmy Hite led the presentation for his firm and shared that his company has never delivered a project over budget. That level of fiscal discipline and accountability carried significant weight with me.”

She also cited the firm’s preparation and regional experience.

“I was also impressed by their attention to detail and the time they invested in researching and understanding our current facilities,” Liverman said. “Their experience working on nearby projects in Perquimans and Washington alongside WIMCO Corporation gave me additional confidence in their ability to deliver successfully in Eastern North Carolina.”

For Liverman, relationships matter on a project of this scale.

“When Mr. Hite presented, he brought members of his team and partners with him, reflecting the strong relationships they have built over decades,” she said. “For a project of this size, strong relationships and clear communication are essential.”

“At the end of the day, my decision was about protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring we provide a high quality facility for our students and community,” Liverman added.

Board member Mike Cole described a hands-on evaluation process that included visiting seven schools across the state.

“I want to give where I stand on anything at any time because I work for the residents of Tyrrell County,” Cole said. “They have the right and they need to know where I stand as an elected official. So I’m going to speak on my process of this elimination.”

Cole said eight firms applied and were narrowed through interviews and a grading rubric.

“We had eight apply, and it was process elimination,” he said. “I had a couple tools I used, interview, a grading system. I visited seven schools from Raleigh, little Washington, Clemmons, Plymouth, all around, because we got one chance. We got one shot to get this right, and it’s a lifetime build for Columbia.”

Cole noted that some Tyrrell County school buildings are approaching a century old.

“Our facilities need it. We got facilities, some buildings 100 years old. We need it,” he said.

He highlighted Hite’s decades of experience and WIMCO’s record as a general contractor.

“Hite is from Greenville, North Carolina. 50 years of experience. They’re building a school in Perquimans, Little Washington, several other ones,” Cole said. “WIMCO is their general contractor. They’ve been in business 40-plus years. They built 40-plus schools. Their subcontractors are Eastern North Carolina.”

Cole said what stood out most during site visits was the working relationship between the contractor and subcontractors.

“Walking through there and seeing these guys stop subcontractor and not talk about work but ask about how was your little girl’s soccer game, is your mama doing okay, tell your dad I was thinking about him,” he said. “The relationships mean something to me and Tyrrell County.”

“It goes a long ways, because when we have a relationship, our working relationship also benefits from that,” Cole said. “When we need to have them tough conversations, we can have them.”

Cole stressed that staying on budget is non-negotiable.

“We don’t have $62 million and 10 cents. We got $62 million. We cannot go over budget,” he said.

He noted that Hite’s architectural fees were consistently lower than competitors.

“The percentage for the architect is somewhere between 8 and 18 percent. Hite has been consistently between the 8 and 10 percent figure. Others, they’re closer to 18 percent. That’s a lot,” Cole said.

Cole also pointed to WIMCO’s current performance.

“Right now as we speak, WIMCO is $3 million under budget for performance,” he said. “We can do a lot with $3 million.”

He emphasized the importance of understanding Eastern North Carolina’s environmental challenges.

“Eastern North Carolina is its own little beast,” Cole said. “All it takes is that rain we got this morning. I guarantee you we got water standing on campus right now. (there was a big storm Sunday night)”

Floodplain considerations were addressed in the firm’s presentation, including building elevations and drainage solutions.

Job opportunities for local residents were another factor.

“This is going to be a job employment opportunity for Tyrrell County residents. That was at the top of our list,” Cole said.

He also underscored that the grant comes with strict parameters.

“This grant has parameters, guidelines,” he said. “It’s a needs-based grant.”

Hite Associates President Jim Hite told the board his firm specializes in K–12 design.

“We are K-12 specialists, that’s what we do, that’s 95 percent of our practice,” Hite said. “We’re experienced, we’re experts, and we really do care about stewardship.”

Hite described the firm’s philosophy as “stewardship of the public trust.”

“We really concern ourselves with common sense, cost effectiveness, what it costs you to build, but really what it costs you to maintain,” he said. “You’ll spend many times over the construction cost of a school in the operation and maintenance of that school over its life. So it’s really important that you build a school that’s a permanent thing that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance.”

He detailed design elements that distinguish the firm’s Unitary Systems Approach, including rectangular building forms, pitched metal roofs with overhangs and secure connectors.

“Water is your enemy,” Hite said. “We like to keep it away from your buildings, keep your buildings dry, and control the humidity.”

He added that the structural design enhances safety.

“Think of this as a lateral beam that reinforces the structure and resists things like hurricanes and tornadoes. Very safe place to be in that hallway if there is such a weather emergency,” Hite said.

Security features include compartmentalized sections with steel doors and lockdown capabilities.

“In our schools, at the reception desk, there’s a panic button,” Hite said. “If a bad guy gets in here, he can only stay. He can’t get to any other place in the school because these doors shut.”

Hite also emphasized cost control.

“My point here is that those principles have resulted in an average cost in just one county of 16 percent less than the state average,” he said. “What it means to you is that you’re going to get more for your money. You’re going to get more school for your money.”

The firm presented two conceptual site plans—one rebuilding on the existing campus and another constructing on adjacent farmland—along with a projected timeline targeting completion in 2029.

“I’m not going to show you something to try to impress you how quick I can do this,” Hite said. “I’m showing you something that’s probably the way it’s going to be.”

For the board, the decision ultimately came down to trust, track record and fiscal discipline.

“It was unanimous,” Cole said.

As planning moves forward, Williams and board members say community input will be critical to shaping the final design of what they describe as a once-in-a-generation investment in Tyrrell County’s future.