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Kinston Factory Grows As Demand For Modular Schools Increases

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Kinston Company Produces Modular Classroom Buildings
KINSTON, N.C. — Wake County schools need an immediate solution to deal with a population surge. With 10,000 new students in the past two years they are planning to buy mobile classrooms and other buildings called modular schools.

A company is Kinston, called Roger Carter Corporation, is building the modular schools. The company is experiencing growth because of high demand for such buildings.

"The school is one of our biggest, largest demands right now," said Roger Carter Jr., president of the company.

The floors, walls and ceilings are put together on an assembly line. Sections snap together to form six- to eight-classroom buildings.

"It's just like walking into another building," said Eric Rouse, a dealer with Modular Solutions Inc.

And just like any other building there are bathrooms and hallways -- and even cafeterias.

"We can even put in elevators if they go to multifloors," Rouse said.

Carter's company started in 1991 with 40 employees. The firm now has 100 employees and supplies businesses and schools on the east coast. Last year, 750 sections were produced.

"It appears to be filling a good market niche right now," Carter said.

The modular schools are built to withstand 130 mph winds and they have a 50-year lifespan.

The Wake County School Board is considering spending $34.5 million on four modular elementary schools, a ninth-grade center and 168 mobile classrooms. The locations for the modular schools may be decided at a board meeting on Tuesday.

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