Crews to continue construction as South Iredell High School students return to class

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — School buses aren’t the only wheels moving on the South Iredell High School campus.

Students return to class Wednesday, and they’ll see construction crews hard at work in the distance.

“A stadium is an essential component of a school, and it really identifies the climate and culture of that school,” said the Chief Operations Officer of Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mark Shinkaruk.

He says crews are adding a new track and field, synthetic turf, lighting and visitor bleachers.

The stadium isn’t only for after-school sports.

“No, a lot of people think it’s just a football team out here, but it’s used during the school day for instructional purposes with PE classes,” Shinkaruk said. ”It’s where graduation takes place, and a lot of people think it’s just the kids that are participating on the field. But you know, you have band, and you have a dance team."

It’s not just the stadium. An entire high school is under construction in Troutman to get students out of modular classrooms.

“Currently, here at South, we’re having to utilize mobile units,” said Shinkaruk. “Same at Lake Norman High School, and so having students in a state-of-the-art school that’s both safe and operationally efficient for our district is really important.”

Crews are building Weathers Creek High School, designed to serve 1,600 students and expected to open in time for the 2027-28 school year.

Until then, Shinkaruk says his team is preparing to welcome students back to South Iredell, and all other ISS schools.

“We’re confident that those things are going to run smoothly based on the leadership and the staff that we have in place,” he said.

South Iredell hopes to have the field finished by Friday, Aug. 21, just in time for the Vikings’ home football game against East Lincoln High School.

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