E.E. Smith High School's future up in the air amid decades-long legacy in Fayetteville

The school is the home of the Golden Bulls. It's where all Black students attended high school in Fayetteville during segregation. But it was also where all students from Fort Bragg and now Fort Liberty attended high school regardless of race.

Because of its military connection, E.E. Smith has a national alumni association that stretches around the world.

E.E. Smith National Alumni Association Member Jimmy Harvey still carries tremendous pride in the school.

"Mr. E.E. Miller said we represented E.E. Smith 24 hours a day, seven day a week. Never bring dishonor to your family, yourself or to the honorable name of E.E. Smith High School," Harvey said. "That's what we lived by."

"They're doing great things in the area of STEM or STEAM," said Associate Superintendent of Auxiliary Services Kevin Coleman. "It's science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. They're doing a lot of great things here that the facilities are not adequate for what they're trying to do and the programs they're trying to grow. So, what we're trying to do is give them a 21st century learning environment."

If approved by Cumberland County commissioners, the new school would be like W.T Brown Middle School and Bill Hefner Elementary school. Both of those schools are built on long-term leased land owned by Fort Liberty.

The downside of building on post would be a community wouldn't grow around the school.

"You can't build houses on Fort [Liberty] and you can't have a lot of things that this community deserves and wants by building on a military [post]," Harvey said.

Where the school is going to be built is not a done deal. It will ultimately be up to Cumberland County commissioners to decide.

As of now, the campus sits on 27 acres along Seabrook Road in Fayetteville. The proposed site on Fort Liberty would be 100 acres and cost about $166 million to construct.