as engines of health and learning. Elementary “playgrounds” became fitness parks, equipped for inclusive access and ringed with walking trails and signage that encourages movement. Outdoor learning environments with Wi-Fi coverage now give teachers fresh instructional options and students a chance to work in the open air. Repurposing also plays a central role. Instead of building new, the district consolidated facilities and converted an existing campus into the Center for Innovation, allowing it to house STEAM, virtual, and nontraditional programs under one roof and serve as the district’s experiential hub. In labs, they work the way teams do—assigning roles, tracking workflow, documenting decisions, iterating on feedback. “If students leave us with enduring skills,” Bennett says, “they can learn the careerspecific ones when the time comes—even if the job didn’t exist when they were in fifth grade.” CAPITAL INVESTMENTS WITH STAYING POWER Like many rural systems, Vance County’s facilities average half a century old. When federal ESSER funds arrived, the district resisted the temptation to use them for short-term staffing and invested instead in improvements with long shelf life. HVAC systems were upgraded and filtration modernized. Lighting was enhanced. Safety got a comprehensive refresh with badge-controlled access points, expanded camera systems, and the design of interior safety vestibules that channel visitors into controlled spaces before they enter instructional areas. The district also reimagined outdoor spaces 397 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12 VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS
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