Old Bethel School gets a new name
By Joyce Lavene
Senior Staff Writer
Cabarrus County Commissioners agreed to sell the Old Bethel School campus on Hwy. 24/27 in Midland to Woodson University last week. The price was $10,000, a sharp decline from the original asking price of more than $2 million.
The county decided last year that they would open bids on the property with a base of $200,000. But the bids were much lower and the county changed its mind.
Earlier this year, there was a proposal from a group that called itself A New Beginning. That group wanted to make the school into a community center. There was also a bid of $10 and $1,000 made in March.
The county estimated that the property was worth about $1 million but would cost between $3 and $4 million to renovate. The property has been vandalized through the years since the school closed in 2007 and has sustained heavy damage as well as the expense of removing asbestos from the old building.
The new university’s main campus will be at this site and will be known as Woodson University-Old Bethel Campus.
Woodson University began in April of this year with five students enrolled in a class called Theories of Leadership, an online course for its bachelor’s degree in Christian Management and Leadership. The university eventually plans to offer certificates and bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in Christian studies.
A. L. Fleming is the president of Woodson University. He spoke to the Town of Midland at their monthly meeting about his plans for the 10 acre, five building campus. “We look forward to working with school alumni, the citizens of Midland, Cabarrus County, and local government. Our purpose is clear—we are here to add to the local economic and academic landscape of our community.”
The university will work with county staff in the coming weeks to finalize the acquisition and transfer of the facility, said Fleming. He said he expects it to be 18 to 24 months for completion of renovations after closing on the purchase. Woodson University will continue to occupy their current offices and academic space in Concord until the completion of renovations.
“First steps should occur after the closing of the sale, within 60-120 days,” Fleming said. “Site cleanup and landscaping is scheduled to occur. The timeline for occupation, active academic course work and administrative work, is unable to be adequately determined until the pre-design phase is completed.”
The university is named after Carter G. Woodson, who founded Black History Month. Fleming was previously employed as an academic counselor, special assistant to the chief financial officer and assistant to the chief development officer at Elizabeth City State University. He was a presidential fellow in the University of North Carolina system.
He was also the chief advancement officer and interim chief financial officer for Barber-Scotia College, before leaving last year to spend time as the director of development at Saint Augustine’s College.
Why Midland? Fleming said the campus is a gem in the community. “The school has provided educational opportunities for citizens of all ages for the past three quarters of a century, approximately. The campus is also a historic beauty in the manner of its construction, and is strategically located near four counties and direct access to major N.C. roadways and Interstates. Therefore its history and location suit our needs in our long range plan to inhabit a small physical campus.”
There seems to be no bitterness about this once devisive issue. Midland Town Council member Mike Tallent, who is on the Old Bethel School Committee, said he and his family support the initiative.
“We feel this would be an appropriate use of the old school. How better to show respect and appreciation to the students that roamed these halls in the past than to honor them by the use of this facility as a university. We look forward to the County Commissioners’ support of this community opportunity.
