Holly Ridge Ribbon Cutting and Open House
July 30, 2002- Wake County Public School System Superintendent
Bill McNeal, Board of Education Chair Kathryn Watson Quigg
and several Board of Education members joined Holly Springs
Mayor Dick Sears for the Holly Ridge elementary and middle
school ribbon cutting and open house ceremony. 
"As almost 4,000 new students join Wake schools each year, we face the on-going challenge of providing enough classrooms for everyone," said Superintendent McNeal. "The Holly Ridge campus represents the first fruit of the $500 million school bond referendum citizens approved in November 2000."
Holly Ridge Elementary is a new two-story prototype (re-usable design) - covering 84,178 square feet - that will serve almost 700 students. A removable partition between the multi-purpose room and dining facility may be opened up to hold the entire student body and parents for special meetings or programs. There are also two play fields - one in front and one behind the school - for the elementary students.
"The new Holly Ridge campus means so much to this growing community," said Sears. "Holly Springs is especially excited to have its own middle school."
Holly
Ridge Middle is a 158,086-square foot prototype (re-used design),
similar to Wakefield, Reedy Creek and Salem middle schools.
The decorative columns at the front of the school and brickwork,
however, are unique to Holly Ridge. Serving approximately
1,000 students, the middle school has a separate auditorium,
media center, large dining facility, and a full-size gym.
In addition, Holly Ridge Middle has a football/soccer field
with track, softball field and an open play field.
The total project budget - including all fees, equipment and furniture - for the elementary is $10.2 million and the middle is $20.4 million.
Both the elementary and middle schools will serve as swing space for other schools during 2002/2003. Apex Elementary students will be housed at the new elementary this coming school year while their campus undergoes major renovations, and then Holly Ridge Elementary will open with its own student body the following year. Fuquay-Varina Middle students will attend Holly Ridge Middle for the 2002/2003 school year while their school undergoes major renovations, and then Holly Ridge Middle will open with its own student body for 2003/2004.