[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6352305,"mediaKeyId","2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b","parentId",2224968,"title","Board to add construction GMPs, county lease agreements and property easement requests to Feb. 10 consent agenda","audioSeconds",334,"startMs",3619000,"endMs",3953000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b&start=3619&end=3953","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b/thumbnail_3619000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6352305/North-Carolina/Board-to-add-construction-GMPs-county-lease-agreements-and-property-easement-requests-to-Feb-10-consent-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352305-ba41222ffe33958e40446443eff28209/orig.mp4?Expires=1776173957&Signature=O0kij8qG7K76zv5ICIjtmCTQNaimxWnrktZbA99TWyZiEbHC2~aPiU9AEGKIgCd069dSb0Ag7ssStrYQs6yqoVW8SqXNxcJ5mt9zcX5X7ZMlTxxm1XrotvVZs-Yf9J8XcFRwBNfAfNPLMV5l1xsr84gZBmcRx~lcHHaz~CPE1eiIJJZOPnnHIY-5bCxrYwV6iqYeowFuvLwMo0uUlYZKJQRZVafIKir4JLhNmsGNmaRMWX58w0AMMOCxLmaQTJrJTmKGvgjmCyQsifAt67pTVXs7DEZswekP13RyrK0ln3Mb4Q9lGLs9Nn15vFDfI0NnrI7JsDBIJeDBBd8IMimXug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-05T17:05:35.647Z","article","District staff presented several construction and real-estate items and asked the board to include them on the Feb. 10 consent agenda for formal approval at the business meeting.

Brian Cohen (district construction) summarized that county-owned properties operated by the district require lease/agency agreements; the agreements for Coltrane Webb STEM School, Opportunity School and Mary Frances Wall were reviewed by county and district attorneys and approved by the county commissioners in January. Cohen asked the board to add those to the consent agenda.

District staff also presented guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendments for major projects: an $8,500,528 GMP amendment for the balance of construction at the Opportunity School project and a $10,553,131 GMP amendment for the balance of construction at the Mary Frances Wall pre-K center, which when combined with earlier amendments results in a total project GMP remaining within funds previously approved by the county and reviewed by the Local Government Commission.

The board also reviewed a requested 7-square-foot sewer easement on J. M. Robinson High School property for a sanitary sewer connection; staff said the easement is minor and that maintenance of the public line is the city/county responsibility. A flooring replacement project at Bethel Elementary School was presented as bidding successfully came in under estimate; staff recommended award. The Public Safety Academy renovation project was discussed as well; staff described a negotiated low bid at $1.211 million (after negotiation) for a training tower and urged timely approval to meet a four-month equipment lead time so the tower will be ready for the coming school year.

For each of these construction and real-estate items, the board had no substantive questions and consented to add the items to the work session’s consent agenda for formal action at the Feb. 10 business meeting.

Ending: The board added the lease/agency agreements, GMP amendments, sewer easement, flooring replacement award and the other construction items to the Feb. 10 consent agenda and asked staff to bring formal documents for approval at that meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCS Board of Education Work Session | Livestream | Monday, February 3. 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff presented multiple construction GMP amendments, county lease/agency documents, a small sewer easement request, and capital projects; the board agreed to place the items on the Feb. 10 consent agenda for formal approval.","taxTitle","Cabarrus County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14086,"location","North Carolina","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6352314,"District finance chief outlines multimillion-dollar shortfalls and cost pressures, urges tough choices",694,2906000,3600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b&start=2906&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b/thumbnail_2906000.jpg","/articles/6352314/North-Carolina/District-finance-chief-outlines-multimillion-dollar-shortfalls-and-cost-pressures-urges-tough-choices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352314-0f9f48e3362ea0b691bb92d4c86daf99/orig.mp4?Expires=1776173957&Signature=araz~FYhTd~WoEwJzci8LaLLggkDXT-UjQqzENejCpvUapuCe0pZOL3PCOqpahsYWzEy1PbQbDfYFQ5mAUVqt3i~-wktfQs0i9mkrTCnjHs-K6pTKZw1epRp0TNb4y~lyBoGG4evvSeyGTYPfkCStEsiFkQ5XmNsyq4JJYvqRyS6sqJvsyC52rbRabfZuJBgr6FUGptBwIuPDtfOjVQCHM2UcfkuPJZk9G4nziRWSXDO6t2k560jNnw7fYGf2Qlg9JnSwbjFaJA7zdrjyJs4NlZ6WKqhkg0PC3e8Y6qv6JkWyI5Rf9nQSRtV9jWmyoHBCl2QeG-7OAs8t7VQXlmuwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cabarrus County Schools officials told the board the district faces multiple revenue shortfalls and rising costs that together create a significant budget challenge for the current year and require careful choices ahead.

Philip Penn, the district finance lead, reviewed items that have widened the projected budget gap. He said a federal SRO (school resource officer) grant award for the current year declined by about $200,000 versus the prior year, effectively increasing local subsidy of SRO costs to roughly $500,000 this year. He also flagged delayed Medicaid reimbursements from the state that could produce an estimated shortfall of about $500,000 if quarterly payments are not received in time for this fiscal year accounting rules.

Penn described concerns with the state’s funding-in-arrears ADM (average daily membership) model and a specific discrepancy between the state’s funded ADM and the district’s submitted ADM that, if resolved, could be worth roughly $500,000. He also said fines and forfeitures remitted from the county year-to-date were about $557,000 versus a budgeted full-year expectation of $2.2 million; conversations with county staff are underway.

On the expense side, Penn told the board that exceptional-children (EC) costs were approximately $3.3 million over budget, driven by increased need and use of more-expensive contracted services to cover internal vacancies. He said contracted EC services total about $1 million this year and that the district’s state reimbursement is capped (the state cap for EC reimbursement was described as roughly $5,300 per student while the district’s average EC service cost is about $8,700 per student). Penn said that federal IDEA and state funding alone do not cover the full cost and a local subsidy of roughly $2,000 per EC student remains.

Penn also reviewed the results of a classified-salary study and subsequent implementation costs. He said implementing the recommended salary-scale changes will cost approximately $3.6 million; the district elected to correct placement inequities and pay employees based on the new scale rather than prorate or delay fixes.

The finance presentation also addressed teacher allotments, the district’s approach to holding back positions, international teacher contract fees and program-choice impacts on scheduling and staffing. Penn and district leaders said they will need to make difficult budget decisions and assess which services are needs versus wants during the next budget cycle.

Board members asked clarifying questions about how one-time county funds were applied to pay adjustments, the status of federal grants that had briefly been flagged as frozen by OMB/OPM and whether the district could better constrain allotments going forward. Penn and Superintendent Kopicki said the most recent directive about federal grant freezes was rescinded within about 36 hours and that those funds arrived when needed.

Board members and cabinet officials said they plan to review program choices, virtual course usage, NCVPS enrollments and other offerings that have relatively low participation and a high cost-per-student as possible areas to reduce long-term structural pressure.

Ending: Finance staff said they will continue to pursue ADM reconciliation with the state, follow up with the county on fines/forfeitures timing, and refine allotment and budget recommendations for the coming budget cycle.

","Cabarrus County Schools officials told the board the district faces several revenue shortfalls and rising costs — including grant declines, delayed Medicaid reimbursements, enrollment funding discrepancies, a higher-than-expected EC cost burden and classified-salary study implementation costs — that together require difficult budget choices.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6352319,"School nutrition staff outline steps to reduce food waste, cite USDA rules and operational constraints",730,1614000,2344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b&start=1614&end=2344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b/thumbnail_1614000.jpg","/articles/6352319/North-Carolina/School-nutrition-staff-outline-steps-to-reduce-food-waste-cite-USDA-rules-and-operational-constraints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352319-b2769e26e7cabe71d1a7962e66fb58fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1776173957&Signature=Tsm0pwv~iQVOW1oFm2oecXrdQeXCFZPYZYwq88S8g8kbgteuuKLoiLQYEknY9fmm89axLfE1oshQdoZsOpf7RzyTPmZV9l1fME~qPar3I~jDnzvUNHnbhi7Fe7xo4U2P1QWFf3Ye~LBxHxxz59suN6kzpZVe0IZJqayR-6hOTF5Knb1yXP9-KaNIAf~M2BQlCUUWYNU2PNWgCKDJg5HFPSkFkxEyhR760yflol2Wsr49hDkOleinQ7gmqoNb5LPR0qO-cvbl~YngTt-k9t1g0VZLwtDf1he2iolNhU37oEryhv~Z5~Y~nkcJGDJRxqBKP3RH0LKfin~f2kzMtkfTcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cabarrus County Schools staff presented an overview of how the district manages school meal production and the steps it takes to reduce food waste, emphasizing menu planning, inventory control and federal meal program rules.

At the board work session, nutrition staff member Stephanie Allman (presenter) said the district begins by planning menus that will be acceptable to most students while complying with USDA meal patterns for serving sizes and nutrition. \"We start with planning menus that are acceptable to the majority of students so we want to be sure we buy things that they are going to eat and enjoy with keeping in mind that we have to meet USDA meal patterns,\" she said. The presentation covered using historical data for ordering, two-week production planning, batch cooking where feasible, and inventory control to avoid spoilage.

Allman explained operational limits: leftovers can be reused within 72 hours when safe and appropriate, but not all foods reheat well. She said share tables are generally not used across the district because of safety and sanitation concerns; acceptable donated items must be shelf-stable or prepackaged and monitored by an adult. She also stated that school nutrition employees are provided one free meal per workday—the same menu available to students.

Board members asked about measuring waste. Allman said USDA periodically selects districts for food-waste studies and that USDA would send observers to Cabarrus County Schools in the coming months to observe and report on what is discarded. On the requirement that students take a fruit or vegetable (established under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010) she noted the rule remains in place and is commonly the largest contributor to plate waste: \"The biggest complaint is probably the fruit or vegetable,\" she said.

Board member Sam Treadaway praised the staff: \"It's a miracle to see how few people feed so many kids each day,\" he said. A board member asked about vegetarian options; Allman said district kitchens can provide vegetarian options (yogurt, salads or requested vegetarian menus) and that menus are adjusted based on sales records and periodic surveys.

Ending: Nutrition staff offered to provide more detailed studies or follow-up if the board requested further analysis.

","Cabarrus County Schools nutrition staff described menu planning, batch cooking, inventory control, and limits imposed by USDA meal rules as strategies to reduce food waste, and said share tables and some reuse options are limited by safety and program rules.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6352324,"Board attorney says Jan. 13 appointment followed board process; new member sworn in, board schedules ethics training",100,141000,241000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b&start=141&end=241","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b/thumbnail_141000.jpg","/articles/6352324/North-Carolina/Board-attorney-says-Jan-13-appointment-followed-board-process-new-member-sworn-in-board-schedules-ethics-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352324-e130483e3eb3f5586060feebbd678dc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1776173957&Signature=CF-GITj~BMRodoqnrC9rftjidyEHZlvXPC-ZXXXBoVP2022mzgQHHOK1QNsHxyFgZL3NkRuus5pb5~wHo9XOQwd1FTQQ7AgH2ajXuAY9nOXJWXD8~HU79ftgH5UAb3-RtKDqKDA22d9nmscrIv8~sDUkXG7N2B85K9K9Cm7k~rKS4tb2piZumDUDsJ7rubEXejsp3VTeLXVg6PmH1oOi4x5seem88WM6Dcb1iuN2s0-90Hqo7eqUE0gQdkSrZYbOkOhAAJluxoWGrk-oVqPt-G8Sz9O7Llu6IcSFihVMhv2L~kk~OcsAIxn7PgGPC34RT~BW34Vce4ug0jmEZmGBVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cabarrus County Board of Education addressed public questions about how it filled an open seat at its Jan. 13 meeting, affirmed that a formal vote was taken at that meeting, and swore in the newly appointed member, Shannon Lancaster.

Board attorney Eisenhower told the board that \"the chair has asked me to provide some clarification regarding the procedures that were followed and the vote that was taken at the January 13 business meeting to fill the open seat on this board.\" He said there had been public concern about the process and clarified that \"there was never a quorum of board members that met during the recess,\" and that the appointment itself was completed with \"a separate formal vote consisting of a proper motion, a second, and a 4 to 2 vote to appoint Mrs. Lancaster to fill the open seat.\"

The board chair then administered the ceremonial oath. Judge Marty McGee presided over the swearing-in; Shannon Lancaster answered, \"I do,\" when asked to uphold the U.S. and North Carolina constitutions and to discharge the duties of a board member.

In response to public concern about the process used during the Jan. 13 meeting, board attorney Eisenhower said the board had accepted constructive criticism and planned further training: \"the chair has requested that the board attorney schedule a training session for the full board to cover these topics and review applicable policies including but not limited to policy 2000, policy 2.110, and policy 2120. This training session has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 10.\"

Board Chair Walter and board members thanked members of the public who submitted a petition and said they had read the feedback. Pam Escobar, a board member, explicitly thanked the community for contacting the board and said such input \"does not fall on deaf ears.\"

The chair also said the board will take formal votes for recesses going forward, changing the practice of relying solely on consensus for recesses.

Ending: The board completed a short photo recess, then resumed its work session with the agenda adoption and other items. The training date and the process-change commitment give the board a clear, publicly stated next step in response to the concerns raised about the Jan. 13 appointment.","The Cabarrus County Board of Education reviewed public concerns about a Jan. 13 appointment to an open board seat, affirmed that a formal 4–2 vote followed procedure, and swore in Shannon Lancaster. The board attorney and chair committed to future trainings and to taking formal votes to recess.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6352310,"Restart schools seek one additional half-day early-release and reaffirm flexibilities after showing growth",307,2808000,3115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b&start=2808&end=3115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224968-8cbe9a0b3370b498e2bcdb409146b11b/thumbnail_2808000.jpg","/articles/6352310/North-Carolina/Restart-schools-seek-one-additional-half-day-early-release-and-reaffirm-flexibilities-after-showing-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352310-61b4a0e6334bb667a2291d2c7f2eef4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776173957&Signature=PXsuleKG7mSSQA03Uhrt7OeDuOOM4WGy0lylusaLXkykfNrp3RduTvEXU~jDxoc4dMD683giq3833VIlDx3-vAFhGKgzJ9IgVKzEnRUFnczIkbLqwlMqFmD8x2xcJRBxKHLxrwO67VjQxYIB4D80lntD8nN65Ie3Q2NIw3YC6IMnZYmqMQ66M-6lfeKbomSJ8hzIcOgSui4YHWwv7uLOXTD3uCoJL916nAwdoqSr49FbAdZM7A4Qbo7ksTqGpeWsE4Uu3LmhOSHn7D3hEyM2YPSlEKCS-lyTTHTdj5DG7~toPh4oNaRMsvHfZ5-zKUGixIZ2dofe4KPUw5S7DQKgFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Principals from Cabarrus County Schools’ five restart-designated schools presented updated outcomes and requested continued flexibility in staffing, budgeting and calendar options, asking the board to grant one additional early-release half day in the 2025–26 calendar for staff professional development.

Richie Wells, principal at W.M. Irvin Elementary School, explained restart is a state reform model that grants certain schools charter-like flexibilities to accelerate improvement. Wells said the district’s restart schools earned \"continued authorization\" on comparison of 2022–23 to the original 2016–17 dataset and are now in year one of a renewed five-year cycle through 2028–29.

Mister Bernard (Weingolf Elementary), Tara Butch (Rocky River Elementary), Melody Marsh (Royal Oak School of the Arts) and others reported academic and subgroup growth. Bernard noted that \"4 of 6 years of met or exceeding growth\" were recorded for some schools and the elementary restart schools met subgroup expectations for most subgroup measures.

The principals asked the board to approve continued exercise of three types of restart flexibility: budget flexibility, employment/staffing flexibility (to hire or place staff who may not hold the exact licensure but meet qualifications), and calendar flexibility. For 2025–26 they requested one additional early-release half day (elementary dismissal at noon; Concord Middle dismiss at 1 p.m.) to provide targeted professional learning tied to each school's improvement plan. They said they coordinate dates with community partners (Boys & Girls Club, Kids Plus, Child Nutrition and Transportation) so after-school care and meal service are not disrupted.

Board members praised the work. Superintendent Kopicki and several board members commended the principals’ leadership and noted that all elementary schools in the district met or exceeded growth, which the superintendent said was \"a tribute to your leadership.\" The board agreed to add the request to the consent agenda for the Feb. 10 business meeting.

Ending: Principals said they will continue to survey staff after professional development days and refine offerings; the board added the restart flexibilities and the single half-day request to the upcoming consent agenda.

","Five Cabarrus restart schools told the board they have met required flexibility outcomes and asked to continue employment, budget and calendar flexibilities; they requested one additional district-approved early-release half day for school-based professional development.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board to add construction GMPs, county lease agreements and property easement requests to Feb. 10 consent agenda

District finance chief outlines multimillion-dollar shortfalls and cost pressures, urges tough choices

School nutrition staff outline steps to reduce food waste, cite USDA rules and operational constraints

Board attorney says Jan. 13 appointment followed board process; new member sworn in, board schedules ethics training

Restart schools seek one additional half-day early-release and reaffirm flexibilities after showing growth