[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6085654,"mediaKeyId","2902519-4902c82febba13b92801cc16088719c8","parentId",2902519,"title","Board committee data shows cell-phone incidents concentrated in middle schools; board to post committee graphs online","audioSeconds",425,"startMs",4720000,"endMs",5145000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902519-4902c82febba13b92801cc16088719c8&start=4720&end=5145","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902519-4902c82febba13b92801cc16088719c8/thumbnail_4720000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6085654/North-Carolina/Board-committee-data-shows-cell-phone-incidents-concentrated-in-middle-schools-board-to-post-committee-graphs-online","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085654-2b24dcd92bb9df3fda8aec5a86e60d4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448485&Signature=kU58HfiBwH8iLzwZhep3ZH-uLU2SIfnYRQH4nD0mN~q8u8pdPQchQBg7EN29flJUAbUuEZphYyI8lO5AWFiP~aiBiSo9kbd8uCC8GNvS8XRs9fhsuSdmcU26o0BQyvG7fYNHa1z50dZKot2HKHrAP28PX3bl7Kr8FUgsRyciWYnmVNugUnGJRVgntAeKjasfcu-kFbhKpDfzPh9zvWtFGjLBuzo826NtA-tERHblSXGDrb0vn6Sme8Qeu3BZFTLV0khzeb6TsPP2BCpvJqEkfePwzafz30ngxYn9NDSwtvvzI3V3o1VFYiqRv1U2rMIOWhxiuTBTzWzPx15Wu4vZTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-09T00:26:02.317Z","article","Members of the board's Discipline Committee reported that phone-related offenses account for 5% of current office referrals districtwide, with 73% of those phone-related referrals coming from middle schools.

\"This is all coming from middle school,\" said Board member Mr. Gaster, who presented the committee summary. He told colleagues the committee's data showed approximately 286 phone-related violations at the middle-school level during the reporting period. \"When it comes to cell phone violations, ... all but 2% of that circle is filled in with cell phone violations,\" he said, describing the chart the committee reviewed.

Committee members said cell-phone issues coincide with reports of disrespect and that the problem should be addressed both at school and at home. The committee agreed to change its meeting time to accommodate additional participants, and board members asked that the committee include the disciplinary graphs on committee agendas or packets so the public can review them.

Operations committee members said they will coordinate with the discipline committee and the IT department to discuss student Wi‑Fi and device usage as a joint topic at upcoming meetings.

Nut graf: The board's committee-level data indicate device-related discipline is disproportionately reported at the middle-school level. Board members asked for greater transparency by posting committee visuals with agendas and scheduled a joint follow-up to pursue a policy path forward.

Ending: The discipline committee's next meeting time was moved to 4:30 p.m.; operations committee members plan to attend the next discipline meeting to continue the discussion on student Wi‑Fi and device rules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Schools Board of Education","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members said cell-phone-related disciplinary referrals are concentrated in middle schools and discussed sharing committee graphs with the public; operations and discipline committees plan joint follow-up on student Wi‑Fi and device policy.","taxTitle","Lee County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",38231,"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},6085659,"Resident presses board on teacher vacancy rate as superintendent outlines budget talks and bus garage plan",368,2687000,3055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902519-4902c82febba13b92801cc16088719c8&start=2687&end=3055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902519-4902c82febba13b92801cc16088719c8/thumbnail_2687000.jpg","/articles/6085659/North-Carolina/Resident-presses-board-on-teacher-vacancy-rate-as-superintendent-outlines-budget-talks-and-bus-garage-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085659-26ba73791ed7742d803175217479de14/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448485&Signature=ErPSJjFA4sxuIDn2wnb8Uxsi62ClUwHph46daxfmlHz2b5BbOGxDTSn2b6h-57Er9Oj-FRnC2bZUN4cunFKAfwSCOQrhm4f5wy25xrvgW6gVzAVl9E3U5adlzaLAQjDTUUwKzBy6Fa9nRgRvL3v8lY4MGEGzAeOimZYbrsSsqG30yXstw8718BBtusnUMVQcTDzjWSqKbPVvajuCLCSDXOCJmd-Fq0Q3lMf3uA0Po-j7As9dhnWpblSE6awi96xq5rf2SvVri-N4RERI78-l3IPLf5LhxxgfUXxJBB~3jxRvdivDOWwkQ1ruiU5Y9ZqrQ0zezWb7Dshc8s8rHYtI5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike Sawaya, a Lee County resident and parent of a first-grader at Tramway Elementary, told the board he remains concerned about teacher vacancies and how salary increases are structured.

\"I do recognize and appreciate that your budget proposal included monies to adjust the teacher's supplement pay,\" Sawaya said. \"What I was trying to express is my concern that I don't think it starts early enough. I think a young teacher coming out of college getting started, seeing 15 years before it begins to ramp ... could end up with this being what they perceive as a lifetime away before the pay raises begin to ramp up.\"

Sawaya cited recent county comparisons and said Lee County's figures show about 2.8 teacher vacancies per school in newly released numbers; he urged the board to note public concern.

Superintendent Dr. Dossenbach updated the board on recent conversations with county officials following the boards' joint meeting. He said district staff met with the county manager and finance team and that county officials said they had no additional data requests and felt the district had supplied the information needed for budget decisions. He said the county also authorized the district to proceed with planning for a single Lee County bus garage rather than a joint facility.

\"We were given the green light to move forward with a sole bus garage,\" Dr. Dossenbach said. \"Beginning July 1, 2025, we can go ahead and obtain an architect and begin that process. That will go through our operations committee and funding will be provided in 25-26.\"

Nut graf: Resident testimony on teacher pay timing joins an ongoing budget conversation between the school district and county government. The superintendent described a near-term implementation step (architect procurement) that begins July 1 and will use FY 2025–26 funding.

Board members asked about scheduling for the 505 committee follow-ups; Dr. Dossenbach said no date was set but that it was likely to occur after the county completes its budget season.

Ending: The board did not take new action on teacher compensation at the meeting; the superintendent said the district had explained its funding needs and would begin bus garage procurement when FY25-26 funding is available.","A Lee County resident urged the board to accelerate pay increases for early-career teachers amid continuing vacancy concerns; Superintendent Dr. Dossenbach reported productive budget talks with county officials and said the district has approval to pursue a sole bus garage beginning July 1.",{"_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},6085664,"Lee County Board approves facilities assessment contract, technology purchases and teacher contracts; enters closed session",5493,186000,5679000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902519-4902c82febba13b92801cc16088719c8&start=186&end=5679","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902519-4902c82febba13b92801cc16088719c8/thumbnail_186000.jpg","/articles/6085664/North-Carolina/Lee-County-Board-approves-facilities-assessment-contract-technology-purchases-and-teacher-contracts-enters-closed-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085664-92a51cd495c0053d72c13e8ee5948348/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448485&Signature=R4xqnwQ5oAIF7FcGP6WObtJMinFLJAwhpGvkVnpfM38U3eNdsD5mG~4aqja~dL9Ircy9zZm2vtOhCIr-FZSxxrJp0ddGnuJH4XtnAe9HR9ZpEzKE4URAxO58BJieyVY2SGcnkWmd-p~fuzt1OCCtoN2L44QmcRQ25cxWGuKfUMcjNTnrAkxhQ2lNykqRVLeToP5GFgkum4mi7VMwXB4giaiqgCDwIjcJqGDyRKzOY-M-TIhpuiuBedLveZwtMgahYqkjW1mKnTpeSsqL7wi~FAePR~7D2fHfC1xid4lRnypIcSj7eOC6kuHmA6PeRwJWgWlFf7i7FvIZBaXLRXcRuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County Board of Education met in a regularly scheduled session and voted to move into closed session under state statutes before returning to address several consent and action items, including approval of a facilities assessment contract, district technology purchases and teacher contracts.

Board members approved a Bureau Veritas contract for a facilities condition assessment and a combined set of school-level technology purchases. The board also approved the human resources report and a set of 1-, 2- and 4-year teacher contracts. Several routine procedural items — agenda, minutes and the consent agenda — were approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: The facilities assessment will provide a system-wide condition review that will inform the district's capital planning and maintenance priorities. The technology purchases use school-level Title I funds to replace and standardize classroom devices. The teacher contracts formalize employment decisions the district will use for staffing next year.

Votes at a glance

• Closed session motion: Motion to enter closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11 and related education statutes to discuss confidential student and personnel matters and to consult with the board’s attorney. Mover: Mr. Gaster. Second: unnamed board member. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Agenda: Motion to approve the meeting agenda. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Minutes: Motion to approve minutes for the regular meeting of 03/11/2025, special-called meeting 03/19/2025 and joint meeting of 03/19/2025. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Consent agenda: Motion to approve consent agenda (donations, financial statements, lottery application updates). Mover: Mr. Gaster. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Third-round technology purchases: Motion to approve combined school-level technology purchases (primarily Title I funds) totaling $155,003.94. Mover: Mr. Romo. Second: unnamed board member. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Bureau Veritas contract: Motion to approve a facilities condition assessment contract with Bureau Veritas for $148,557.56. Mover: Mr. Romo. Second: unnamed board member. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Human resources report and teacher contracts: Motion to approve the human resources report and 1-, 2- and 4-year teacher contracts. Mover: Ms. Ortiz. Second: Mr. Gasser. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Meeting close: The board adjourned following the action items.

The meeting record shows voice votes for the listed motions; individual recorded tallies were not read into the record.","At its regular meeting the Lee County Board of Education voted to enter a closed session and approved a facilities condition assessment contract, a third-round technology purchase and multiple teacher contracts, among other routine items.","actionData","errors"]

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Board committee data shows cell-phone incidents concentrated in middle schools; board to post committee graphs online

Resident presses board on teacher vacancy rate as superintendent outlines budget talks and bus garage plan

Lee County Board approves facilities assessment contract, technology purchases and teacher contracts; enters closed session