[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6333083,"mediaKeyId","2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3","parentId",2303641,"title","Votes at a glance: Robeson County Board approves easement, testing schedule, surplus declaration, contract amendments and other items","audioSeconds",85,"startMs",4634000,"endMs",4719000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3&start=4634&end=4719","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3/thumbnail_4634000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6333083/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Robeson-County-Board-approves-easement-testing-schedule-surplus-declaration-contract-amendments-and-other-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333083-832c03efc52e52832d66bd2b76dc4c67/orig.mp4?Expires=1775411522&Signature=Y81-5uHBIY-opLlhS9lRtNgRoMiM9HQmT2V~vHonfEd~IJBpKLi2V9jTVlj6XulXJM4-GX0W9bgpfAphmt7HoHg4Y~0dzVfPwmp3292OU-kQ9Ra3K7MfE2LCcfoDVw0u-5SiPuYaSi-zvI82GsAsc1dr55aphPUTKks1YMpdgevF0nmOx25QlwUZhQkqe5XWbLsU~kCLe~wPiAiyjz7I0lVt7azEyaEvSgirIJV7WXajPGXQjh6AwRJkRuVUtmYXpRhYTd3xF2zkvWkyF7OAy3z6R~VB6gG1jp5L8JT3QWdsJOGz0~AW0dANvzOnjJid4Sb9HMAKErMg~qAnw1TB5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Public Schools of Robeson County","date","2025-02-13T17:18:06.617Z","article","At its Feb. 11 meeting the Robeson County Board of Education completed multiple formal actions. The board recorded motions, seconds and votes on a series of operational items; minutes and recorded split votes will appear in the official minutes. Key outcomes the board approved during open session are listed below.

North Carolina Department of Transportation easement — Lumberton Senior High
The board approved permission for an additional easement (not a property take) required for a NCDOT project along Linke Hall Road. The packet noted compensation of $26,030 for the easement. The district attorney reviewed the item and the board approved the easement by motion and second with a unanimous voice/hand vote.

Summer testing schedules (grades 3–8 EOG and high school EOC)
The board approved two summer testing plans: one for grades 3–8 (EOG) and another for high-school EOCs. The plans split remediation and testing windows to allow time for result return and remediation; the board approved both schedules in a single motion.

Greengrove Elementary surplus declaration
The board declared Green Grove Elementary School property surplus to begin the process that could lead to transfer or other disposition; the board’s motion to declare the property surplus passed without recorded opposition. Board counsel clarified that declaring property surplus is the first step and does not itself transfer title.

EC contract amendment — speech services
The board approved a technical contract amendment to add speech services (including preschool/shining-stars coverage) after a prior contractor asked to step away. Staff explained the amendment represents transferring previously allocated funds and adding services to a provider that had capacity. The board approved the amendment by motion and second.

Monthly financial report — January
The board received and approved the January financial report. Board members asked for additional breakdowns on local maintenance expenditures and central-office administrative costs and staff agreed to follow up with further detail.

Policy 2335 — advanced delivery of meeting materials
The board moved Policy 2335 (advanced delivery of meeting materials) to action and later acted to change the policy language so materials are to be provided at least four calendar days prior to meetings (aligning practice with Friday distribution). The final vote recorded two members opposed (Kirsty Fields and a board member identified in the record as \"Jerry\") and the remainder in favor; the minutes will reflect named split votes.

Closed session and personnel
The board entered closed session under North Carolina General Statutes (personnel and attorney-client privilege citations given). After closed session the board approved classified and certified personnel actions as presented. Motions and seconds for closed-session items were recorded in the meeting.

Announcements and settlements
The board announced receipt of an additional settlement payment from a multi-district litigation program (JLI/Jewel settlement) for $48,487.89, and staff listed upcoming events including a Girls in STEM conference and a work session in February. The board scheduled finance and construction committee meetings for March.

Minutes: motions, seconds and split votes are recorded in the official meeting minutes; this summary reflects the outcomes the board announced in open session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PSRC Board of Education Meeting: 2/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","The board recorded a series of formal actions including approval of a NCDOT easement near Lumberton Senior High, summer testing schedules, a surplus declaration for Greengrove Elementary, EC contract amendments for speech services, the monthly financial report, policy 2335 amendment and closed-session personnel approvals.","taxTitle","Public Schools of Robeson County, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14184,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6333087,"Board adopts 2025-26 school calendars after heated debate; early college passes unanimously",611,2427000,3038000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3&start=2427&end=3038","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3/thumbnail_2427000.jpg","/articles/6333087/North-Carolina/Board-adopts-2025-26-school-calendars-after-heated-debate-early-college-passes-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333087-4756a84955282867df7515351c53f25b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775411523&Signature=RKv9C7A2fZ3~GlQFnz-VRKzfVtGcqJSf5kjv8SWzTvmrHntmGpTOm9QwLdhSpwl2vHluJCVw7ztJS8NgXqMQulmMf88NO~1Z6vvQHCTuiNBwFApxgzsak9N-nmQk39IJJlXturSPyZVCq7VEsr9gHu8fRwR~4WsZnYbR0mdViYI5MyaCcuLR6ZYldAQGiNRw5uT74tvlztRV80nQv430JCr4KoxJCqjDv63YCswL6e1u06hvP0iE6PcZijb~l8jpC5tRfI6~gDiMtUAGb9w4y-updjw-MFti9SgNBjpQ5kU-XyPEGGx-mPTq8qPbCkyVvlFKvHmG8so-12J7T9StGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Robeson County Board of Education spent substantial time Thursday reviewing and voting on the 2025-26 school calendars for the district and its early college program before approving both calendars.

Bobby Lottleyer (presenter) reviewed state calendar requirements including earliest/latest start dates, a minimum instructional requirement (either 185 days or 1,025 hours) and teacher work-day minimums. He said the district has historically built calendars to meet a thousand-and-twenty-five-hour requirement and described how the calendar committee (including principals and teachers) constructed the proposed schedule. “We follow the all requirements of the law were met within this calendar,” he said.

Board members raised multiple questions about semester balance and whether exams should be scheduled before or after Christmas. Member Terry and others asked why neighboring systems test before the holiday; staff said shortening the first semester to accommodate pre-Christmas testing reduces instructional days in that semester and could pack too many required tests and activities into a short period. Dr. Williamson, the superintendent, told the board he would not recommend a calendar that created an unbalanced semester: “We are not gonna recommend a 50 day semester,” he said, citing testing-policy and instructional-balance concerns.

Board member Trey Britt said he polled teachers he knows at the high-school level and took their preference into account when voting. Other members noted the district’s long-standing practice of building banked instructional minutes into the day to avoid post-hoc make-up days for weather closures.

After discussion, a motion to adopt both calendars was moved and seconded. The early college calendar passed unanimously. The traditional calendar passed with several members recorded as opposed; the minutes record split votes and identify at least three board members as voting “no.” The board noted that split votes must be recorded in the minutes by name.

Staff said graduation dates and semester testing windows were coordinated with principals and that the district plans to finish the traditional year on June 9 and hold graduation activities around June 12. Lottleyer summarized instructional-day counts (first semester/higher school totals) and said the calendar design maintains a 375-minute instructional day to preserve the district’s hour total.

Board members asked staff to convene a curriculum committee meeting before the next meeting to further discuss testing timing and instructional balance. Dr. Williamson and staff said they will follow up and return to the board with any recommended changes before finalizing consequential scheduling details.","After extended discussion about semester length and exam timing, the board approved the traditional and early college 2025-26 calendars. The early college calendar passed unanimously; the traditional calendar passed with several members recorded as opposed.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6333092,"Robeson County schools win competitive federal cybersecurity pilot grant worth more than $1 million",248,1023000,1271000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3&start=1023&end=1271","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3/thumbnail_1023000.jpg","/articles/6333092/North-Carolina/Robeson-County-schools-win-competitive-federal-cybersecurity-pilot-grant-worth-more-than-1-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333092-cdb514e6e93a13df4413987c67ad6afe/orig.mp4?Expires=1775411523&Signature=BKC20y7TiIb4DGlFOzcq19g0UaY22kcMpA2AUT6Grqmgr1OD59T~n2fawci7q7VOWlNKmxlxsDV~N0W4-ny9Y9TRYO5-PMvaNbFzHnqrfuD8Wu32uwktoM7-YF55Unu8PmNaKmnIxGTfG0-7MrMksNqBskn~GleRgAG-RFf8~VWU9R1SniGf6qZKaMMbNorS~mgOmRjyaajFAA-gtsXEihwSiRnIHyBHpEkpvc8KRc4pMOiak9d86DNSbwCI6sR82YJduh3FD3oq3LSSLgOp9Cu~3Q8E~ZOSfEf2tFpDcdtTsnUk1EPWrQS2dLK16VSqEpC1mbcFVQIzODAtHftvTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Robeson County Board of Education was told the district has been awarded a competitive federal cybersecurity pilot grant, with an initial award figure presented as roughly $1,000,000 to be spent over three years.

Presenter Everett Veil (presenter name in packet) told the board that the program was highly competitive and that only 17 districts won statewide. “We were lucky to be awarded over $1,000,000 for our cybersecurity pilot program,” he said, and he noted the federal program’s primary focus now is on providing Internet connectivity and wireless access to schools nationally. Veil added the federal program has shifted away from funding on-premises servers toward connectivity and infrastructure.

Veil told the board that the application asked for a larger sum nationally — he cited figures for total applicants and total dollars requested — and that the district’s award could be adjusted downward if the application did not meet all federal requirements. Board members asked whether the grant would include funds for student devices (Chromebooks) replacement; Veil said the packet did not include a dedicated replacement fund and referred questions about device replacement to the district’s technology office and central accounting staff.

Board members and staff discussed existing device cycles and the district’s plan to move to a multi-year lease/purchase cycle for devices; Veil said central office staff are preparing a plan for device refresh that would address fourth- and fifth-year device needs. The presenter also provided a brief historical note that federal connectivity initiatives have provided tens of millions of dollars to the district since 1998 to support wireless access points and related infrastructure.

The district will finalize the award terms and confirm procurement and implementation plans in coming months. Board members asked staff to return with specifics about device-replacement budgeting and central-office funding sources if the grant requires local matching or cannot fund devices directly.","District staff announced a federal cybersecurity pilot award of roughly $1,000,000 for a three-year initiative; presenter said competition was intense and funds must be spent within three years.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6333098,"Robeson County to convert five older buses to activity use; four DEQ-funded replacements scheduled",560,449000,1009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3&start=449&end=1009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2303641-66fb681431d1e427c1a9f97aa1cd21f3/thumbnail_449000.jpg","/articles/6333098/North-Carolina/Robeson-County-to-convert-five-older-buses-to-activity-use-four-DEQ-funded-replacements-scheduled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333098-d7fbf4742d24409ab40230f475657c65/orig.mp4?Expires=1775411523&Signature=DIvJ0VOxRc0fosKInaF2wpBTA8WL0Ra6y2UTSt2dSMWL7LzPIP38S1v~AcYX9Pl3nZiMdwP6Vq6TsPnC0GUUd~6Vi0ARx8Cp8crPGZdxP1hRb~bhrwvNFZG2kxbFxelzhvE0Z8FyBEtfl2mzzKzUwB-F4vuzUfA9~ec5TelmVkio1Z8oa6gGArqggWXxnj773qC9mN9EnYrGWD4URDBwAkPQcN6IuEDIBgVWLvSxUcK7faWwx31nzLKx-W-Uh2Lb8TVzdDtbKXfl8GxTVcKs4wYhWyw6lXbJmkgqKtM-sekOnsvbqR9wv4FISz7XTRtLYwfmIfWkn6KXTcWSoyxJwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Leach and the Robeson County Board of Education heard an update on school transportation Thursday that outlined planned vehicle swaps and near-term deliveries tied to a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant.

The board was told that the district expects to finalize and distribute four DEQ-funded replacement activity buses within a week, and plans to convert five parked yellow buses into activity buses for use by middle and high schools. The conversions involve changing systems and the bus governor so vehicles can be used for extracurricular travel rather than regular routes.

District presenter Robert Guzman said the district is also reallocating three of the remaining buses in the 7476 warehouse so high schools will have access to newer buses. “That bus driver has a very impactful job when it comes to our students that is often missed and goes unnoticed,” Guzman said, urging board members to recognize bus drivers during the month and week designated for driver appreciation. He noted the age of some activity buses in use and the local costs of maintaining them.

Guzman described costs and maintenance requirements: activity buses bought in 2023 cost about $132,462 and current costs cited were approximately $161,441 per activity bus. He said activity-bus repairs and some staffing costs must be covered with local funds and cannot be paid from certain transportation grant accounts (fund 56). Activity buses, like yellow school buses, receive 30-day inspections under North Carolina General Statute and are inspected in-house by county mechanics when certified; the district is training three new staff for inspection responsibilities.

Board members asked which specific schools would receive the refurbished buses; Guzman identified Hilly Branch (for CTE), Pembroke Middle, St. Paul’s Middle, Odom (Orem) and Lumberton Junior as recipients. He said the district’s fleet presently includes roughly 238 route buses, 10 parked buses and 13 bus credits available from the state if expansion is necessary. Guzman also explained that 15 buses acquired with federal COVID-era grant funds must remain in a system-wide pool and are not assignable to a single school.

Board members raised operational questions about maintenance logs, inspections and whether contracted carriers can substitute for in-house buses when vehicles are down. Guzman said activity buses are inspected every 30 days and that contracts for supplemental transportation are used mainly for special circumstances (McKinney-Vento, EC needs), not as routine yellow-bus replacements. He also said the district is short several mechanics, which can delay repairs.

The update concluded with board members asking staff to continue tracking costs, allocation and the roll-out schedule for the DEQ buses. Guzman said the district expects the new DEQ buses to be rolled out by the end of the month and that the five converted activity buses will follow at the same timeframe.","School transportation staff told the Robeson County Board of Education that four new DEQ-funded activity buses will be delivered soon and that five older yellow buses will be reconfigured as activity buses for middle- and high-school programs. Staff described inspection, maintenance and funding limits for activity buses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Robeson County Board approves easement, testing schedule, surplus declaration, contract amendments and other items

Board adopts 2025-26 school calendars after heated debate; early college passes unanimously

Robeson County schools win competitive federal cybersecurity pilot grant worth more than $1 million

Robeson County to convert five older buses to activity use; four DEQ-funded replacements scheduled