Merger Information
The Truth About District Merger: What Families and Community Members Need to Know
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners is currently discussing the possibility of merging Hickory City Schools, Newton-Conover City Schools, and Catawba County Schools into one countywide district. While some believe a merger could bring efficiency, research and experience show that mergers do not save money long-term and can create significant challenges for students, families, and taxpayers.
Why This Matters for Hickory Families
A merger would include:
- Extra expenses: Technology integration alone is projected to cost $8–12 million over 2–3 years. Legal fees, rebranding, and consolidating financial systems would add even more.
- Shift the tax burden: Teacher needs remain the same, but state funding decreases after two years, forcing counties to make up the difference.
- Reassign students: School lines would be redrawn, bus routes would lengthen, and students could lose connections with teachers and peers.
- Reduce Hickory’s voice: A countywide system would move decision-making further from our community, weakening local input.
The Hidden Costs
Even with fewer administrative positions, larger systems pay higher salaries. Federal funding like Title I, ESL, and CTE would shrink because poverty percentages are diluted in a larger system. Projected “savings” would not even cover the cost of building a single middle or high school in North Carolina.
Community Meetings
The County Commissioners are holding meetings from 6-8 PM to gather input, but none are scheduled within the Hickory City Schools district. It is essential that our community attends and makes our voice heard.
Meeting Schedule:
- Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 – Cornerstone Church, 411 E. Main St., Maiden
- Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 – Hickory Metro Center, 1960 13th Ave Dr SE, Hickory
- Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 – Rehobeth Church, 9297 Sherrills Ford Rd, Terrell
- Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 – Conover Station, 403 Conover Station SE, Conover
How You Can Help
- Contact your county commissioners to voice your concerns.
- Review and share our Merger Information Materials.
- Talk with your neighbors, coworkers, and family members about the impact of merger.
- Attend the community meetings and ensure Hickory’s perspective is represented. Please sign up here to let us know you will be attending.
Our students, families, and community deserve to have the full story. Together, we can protect the future of education in Hickory.