SALISBURY — A group of students from Rowan County Early College joined the Board of Commissioners on Monday with an important message: The school’s current facilities just aren’t cutting it.

Delivering the message were members of the school improvement team, a group formed to “help future students have a learning environment that matches (their) … outstanding performance.”

Discontent centered around the school’s meager set-up beside Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s Building 400, where more than 200 early-college students share 10 mobile classrooms and one hallway.

The school moved into the space in 2012 from the college’s Building 200 as it underwent renovations, said student Oriana Reed.

According to Rowan County Early College graduate Maria Delgado, the move was supposed to be temporary.

Yet six years later, classes continue in the mobile units, with both classroom and office space at a premium.

Despite this, the school’s students have continued to achieve great things: more than 90 percent earn both a high school diploma and associate degree, 100 percent graduate, and 99 percent continue their education after graduation, said student Amy Euceda.

But more could be accomplished with a better facility, the group said.

Sophomore Dalton Canup shared the group’s ideal solution — a permanent structure with 14 large classrooms, two large science labs, a gym, a multipurpose room, and adequate office space for the staff.

The team even envisioned how to power the new space — with solar panels and renewable energy.

A large focus of the expansion, said junior Claire Allen, could be the introduction of programing for biotechnology, a rapidly growing industry across North Carolina.

“Expansion would allow the school to ensure that its students could find reliable, beneficial careers in which they could succeed,” said Allen.

Sophomore Adrian Maldonado estimated an additional 65 to 100 students could be served through a new and larger facility.

Maldonado said the group is open to alternative solutions, such as transitioning into spaces in the college’s 600 or 300 buildings.

“We know that both solutions … cost a significant amount of money,” he said. “We hope that with help of philanthropists, investors, foundations, organizations, and the county commission that we be able to achieve our goal in creating a more adequate learning environment for the students of (Rowan County Early College).”

No action was taken during the meeting after the presentation, though commissioners Chairman Greg Edds praised the group and school for their continued accomplishments.

“We’re really proud of this group,” said Edds. “… All of leadership is tasked with trying to improve the quality of our schools — not just here but it’s happening all across the country. We have a shining light here in Rowan County, and that is the early college.”

In other business at Monday’s meeting:

• The commissioners approved a Level 1 investment grant for “Project Peach.”

The proposal is for $674,095 in grants over five years for an existing county employer, offered as a 75 percent return on taxes paid. The unnamed company is an advanced manufacturer whose parent company is considering Rowan County for expansion.

If Rowan County is selected, the company would invest $29.5 million in facility and equipment upgrades, as well as bring 58 new jobs.

• The board approved updates to the Farmland Preservation Ordinance.

The changes bring the county in line with updated state statutes on voluntary and enhanced voluntary agricultural districts.

• The commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed 2019 property values. The county Tax Assessor’s Office will use the schedule to assess real property for tax purposes. More information will be available at the commissioners’ Dec. 3 meeting.

• The commissioners approved as many as 20 yearly adoption specials for the Rowan County Animal Shelter.

The specials reduce adoption costs by 80 percent. According to Animal Services Director Bob Pendergrass, 12 similar events this year have helped the shelter reach a euthanasia rate of just 2.8 percent for the year, with no adoptable dogs or cats being euthanized.

• The commissioners voted to cancel their Dec. 17  meeting.

• Commissioner Judy Klusman was chosen as the county’s voting delegate for the 2019 North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Legislative Goals Conference.