The Cumberland County community got its first glance Tuesday at the plans for a new auditorium at Cumberland County High School.

Director of Schools Billy Stepp said unlike Stone Memorial High School, the Cumberland County campus does not have an auditorium.

“A lot of the comments in the community that have been made to me is that it is a long time coming,” Stepp said. “They’ve been wanting an auditorium. They just haven’t been able to figure out the funding side of it.”

Stepp said some $8 million has been allocated for the project through federal COVID relief money.  the designs for the project were presented for the first time at the Glenn Martin Elementary School’s Little Theater Tuesday.

“It will be an interactive meeting for those that come,” Stepp said. “We’ve invited local elected officials, county commission and mayor to see the plans and if they want to provide questions, they will have that opportunity.”

Stepp said the layout and capacity of the auditorium will be about the same as Stone Memorial. Stepp said the plans will go to the school’s building and grounds committee for approval later this month. The full school board will then consider it for final approval.  Stone Memorial auditorium seats 1,200.

Stepp said if approved, it would be located on the stadium side of the school by the band and choir room.