[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6121661,"mediaKeyId","2700300-a8563c351ff421f7e7211b498264eff8","parentId",2700300,"title","Board approves request to county for roughly $20 million to cover top capital priorities","audioSeconds",5088,"startMs",1679000,"endMs",6767000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2700300-a8563c351ff421f7e7211b498264eff8&start=1679&end=6767","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2700300-a8563c351ff421f7e7211b498264eff8/thumbnail_1679000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6121661/North-Carolina/Board-approves-request-to-county-for-roughly-20-million-to-cover-top-capital-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121661-44557b58d250bbed0d4f7dcbac7f2643/orig.mp4?Expires=1770486136&Signature=exeR6p7L1exPs8GEfyIEwGxQWTNyjD~3y2S0BMV5zujDouxhkvhTolMG8pxnpyPPZQtlQCRedK6c-u0~10w4pUV6aRodHMIUzQTPspDxYdzbrzS3XTxzI-ec-9IYS8t8toS7FTnF1ruA9gppx1At~~5gyAfqQ4dDgKfBS46uh~hwX8s1-vUiDyCRJMpCCXvsmLGnziUT73O-~RWyQNHKVoa80FvaCwxh4cSKFVBHDUZXrwg9Um8MqEa8vcLCm0wsgORWhj-AQOtz25jYbLJQCnDjHf2~B8jOrw7dTiyPaXxSICauSqdYCo4sqQzlZjMgCVtqDrGSBHkJs56GRzCjUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hanover County Schools","date","2025-03-19T16:08:15Z","article","The New Hanover County Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to ask the county for funding to cover the district's top capital priorities, approving a board motion to request roughly $20 million after accounting for anticipated lottery and other revenue sources.

Staff presented a multi-part budget update, including an operating-budget change that relies in part on a new process to claim state refunds for positions coded as state-paid employees who do not participate in the state health plan; staff estimated that change could yield roughly $500,000 in reimbursements for the coming year. The presentation also reviewed pre-kindergarten funding: the district used about $1.2 million in Title I carryover this year to cover a Head Start shortfall and anticipates only about $300,000 in Title I funds available for pre-K next year, creating a roughly $700,000 gap the proposed operating budget would address in part by shifting local funds.

The capital presentation laid out the district's full request if everything were funded ($41.3 million) and a more-limited set of \"priority 1\" items ($28.4 million). Staff explained expected external revenue: approximately $2.5 million in state lottery funds and roughly $663,000 in lottery repairs-and-renovations funding. After subtracting lottery and other identified sources (and noting endowment asks in progress), the board settled on a county ask of a little over $20 million to cover the district's immediate top-priority capital needs, which include roof and HVAC replacements, upgrades to HVAC controls, backflow preventer replacements, auditorium and auditorium-sound repairs, campus safety and security upgrades, and classroom and career-technical facility renovations.

Board member Dr. Tim Merrick moved that the board request funding for all priority-1 capital items across categories (repairs and renovations, technology, furniture and equipment, vehicles and facilities capital) and include a stipulation that the county assist the district in covering emergency expenses beyond the district's restricted fund balance (not limited to storm-only events). The board discussed pacing and implementation capacity: staff warned that accomplishing priority-1, 2 and 3 items in a single year would strain district staff, and members asked staff to prioritize implementable projects. Several members also noted ongoing discussions with the county endowment for specific operating items (for example, district specialists and device purchases) and that any endowment support would reduce the county ask.

When the motion was put to a vote it passed 5 to 0. The board chair directed staff to incorporate the board's guidance into the final proposed budget and county request to be presented again at the board's April meeting (and shared earlier with the finance committee), and staff said they would return with a refined list of the priority-1 projects and dollar-precise asks.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to request county funding for priority-1 capital items (board motion): Passed, 5-0. Outcome: board approved asking the county for roughly $20,000,000 (after subtracting projected lottery and other revenues) and requested county assistance beyond restricted fund balances for non-storm emergencies.

The board also reviewed other operating items during the work session (pre-K staffing and transportation impacts, possible $500,000 state refund, and ongoing efforts to maximize positions for schools). Staff asked the board for a target capital number to use while preparing the formal county request; the board's vote provided that guidance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NHCS Board of Ed. Budget Work Session Meeting | March 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After staff outlined operating budget changes and a large list of capital requests, the board voted 5-0 to ask New Hanover County for just over $20 million to fund priority \"number 1\" capital items and to request county support beyond the district's restricted fund balance for non-storm emergencies.","taxTitle","New Hanover County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14191,"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},6121666,"New Hanover County Schools board weighs modest stipend increase, considers internal cuts",1159,286000,1445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2700300-a8563c351ff421f7e7211b498264eff8&start=286&end=1445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2700300-a8563c351ff421f7e7211b498264eff8/thumbnail_286000.jpg","/articles/6121666/North-Carolina/New-Hanover-County-Schools-board-weighs-modest-stipend-increase-considers-internal-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121666-ae2e8aa94698d5e6a0682bdfb8cff946/orig.mp4?Expires=1770486136&Signature=nnpirITwxt-9uayMgHR6YSON5AHj8TEyI9eTGaAOVLHT4qSLXsJMogwG5ug2B5AsLEcJ~8Ix5wbnFwKqdEuzQnvLSSK0Ua~-iDNuRc7xjLzDRwTHq0BV0Om15X~HeQ~2shrpj1jGoGqz0dM33PB-8~s1TGrO-DScGjL4yMTXp5T8xQLRnOH6jol6gY9JuIRVg3pa6m7--BNRtB0wfHGhdlwYAgxpLGdhbx0m--K0HLLNQPoGP5ehPF15hBdJDnyl2rU6W1O7YLnlMystjq2dn2zWnKkL-x2kGvnivHqUyXGSVfP608WeNwD2eypv5xtsxT~GTIfP~HXWPjqfJmhHIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Hanover County Schools Board of Education debated whether to reallocate existing board budget lines and seek a small cost-of-living increase from the county to raise board member stipends.

Board member Pat Bradford proposed shifting funds from several internal line items to increase the annual stipend, saying, “I've identified with some of those things just under $21,000 that we could rearrange and slide up into item number 2.” The proposal listed specific targets: $5,000 from contracted services, $7,400 from workshop expenses, $500 from each board member's travel reimbursement, $400 in supplies and $46.50 from software and supplies, and taking half of the board's food purchases. Bradford said the changes would allow a modest stipend increase and that any larger request could be presented to the county separately.

Board members discussed the optics and equity of raising stipends. Dr. Tim Merrick argued the county could reallocate its own revenue to support the board, saying, “We could give you at least a modicum of a raise, right?” Several members noted the board's schedule and workload, the long interval since the last stipend raise (the transcript notes the last raise was in 02/2018), and differences between the board's stipend and county commissioner pay.

Board members and staff identified potential internal savings and negotiation points. They reviewed recurring costs such as online policy hosting (listed on the handout as web hosting and related policy update fees) and discussed the possibility of renegotiating vendor rates (membership and hosting are billed on an ADM basis and typically require 60 days' notice to alter). A staff member said the board could start renegotiation conversations but noted vendor flexibility is uncertain.

Bradford moved to implement the specific reallocations listed above and to ask the county for an additional 3% cost-of-living increase; the board discussed the motion and asked staff to prepare comparative options (including converting mileage reimbursements to a fixed travel stipend). The maker indicated she would table the motion for one week to allow additional analysis and to bring the item back at agenda review.

The board did not take a final vote on stipend increases at this meeting. Members asked staff to return with clarified dollar figures, negotiations status with vendors, and whether proposed internal savings were one-time or recurring before any formal change was adopted.

The discussion concluded with members emphasizing two parallel approaches: (1) pursue internal savings and (2) separately request a modest county-funded cost-of-living increase, while ensuring that any increase would not reduce funding available for schools.

The board then moved on to the operating and capital budget presentations.","Board members debated reallocating roughly $21,000 from board operating line items to raise stipends and discussed asking the county for a cost-of-living increase; a motion to reallocate specific line items was proposed and then tabled for further review next week.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves request to county for roughly $20 million to cover top capital priorities

New Hanover County Schools board weighs modest stipend increase, considers internal cuts