Catawba County News

Catawba County Board of Commissioners to hold public hearing and vote on school merger April 20 

Published: March 20, 2026

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing prior to its vote on a proposed school district merger plan during its regularly scheduled meeting April 20. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room at the Catawba County Justice Center, located at 100 Government Drive in Newton. 

The Board of Commissioners is considering the merger to consolidate Catawba County Schools, Hickory City Schools, and Newton-Conover City Schools into a single county-wide school district. North Carolina state law requires the Board of Commissioners to develop a proposed plan establishing an effective merger date, a new governing board, and a transition process for the new district. This plan, which integrates feedback gathered through community meetings last fall, has been developed and will be voted upon by the Board of Commissioners on April 20. 

The proposed school district merger plan is available for review online on the Catawba County website, www.catawbacountync.gov, along with additional background information related to the proposed merger. A hard copy of the plan is available for review in the Catawba County Clerk’s office.