[{"_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",6218876,"mediaKeyId","3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc","parentId",3624471,"title","Board approves budget amendment increasing appropriations; fund balance projected at about $11.95 million","audioSeconds",468,"startMs",7169000,"endMs",7637000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc&start=7169&end=7637","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc/thumbnail_7169000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6218876/North-Carolina/Board-approves-budget-amendment-increasing-appropriations-fund-balance-projected-at-about-1195-million","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218876-96d654896809cf9002140c8333336f88/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=m4JzJ~7XZ7Awc2W8A7IN9PSXG5bsE6EcGj1Mc0qCFdq3Y7ULrSJ3xOTUsFMV4y-9mAraBxkMzHevWUZOFBIFHsMdMxs0qKAtGWA4blFo4n3gj9pO9MnZ9zSp47HU7Ofel6sZXLcwH32BD3Sjgw-wGNe-Q-5uJ9awOgFD4UtkdXPG1XVDxWccTrhp7gMHbZHoz6w8iaRKCnxEGG14iMSQhYTMLrokjIIQGVBtcIeE90aQw9EsTTaslv1Sd66~oMfp8-Fy6WhTx8LvuWfoL4qul3tXRIYy0-DdJ04iuT7Gmpso3wgGVg2R1jo3eU3eNM8yHFt8OTQhveptCfAwed-G0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wayne County Public Schools","date","2025-06-02T23:12:59Z","article","The Wayne County Board of Education approved Budget Amendment No. 1, which adjusts appropriations across multiple funds, increases selected capital and operational line items and appropriates fund-balance amounts carried forward from the prior fiscal year.

A finance staff presentation detailed the totals: \"The total of all the funding sources equate to $251,553,870.72,\" the presenter said. Key items in the amendment include an increase in the local fund-balance appropriation for facility utilization and exceptional-children supports (changed from $400,000 to $3,400,000 as presented), an increase in the state LEA bus-purchase line from $300,000 to $500,000, and school food-service appropriations that include a first-time fund-balance appropriation of $2,116,408, bringing total school-food-service funds to $14,468,632.

In response to board questions, the presenter said the district's audited fund balance at June 30 was $19,860,897; with the amendment's appropriations totaling $7,908,490, the remaining projected fund balance would be $11,952,407 if all requested appropriations are used.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the size and one-time nature of some appropriations and the source of certain revenues tied to Medicaid billing for exceptional-children services. A motion by board member Wade Latham, seconded by Mr. West, carried the amendment by voice vote. The transcript records the vote as in favor; no recorded opposition was noted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wayne County Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved Budget Amendment No. 1, which adjusts multiple funds and appropriations, increases certain capital and operating allocations, and leaves an estimated post-amendment fund balance of about $11.95 million.","taxTitle","Wayne County Public Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14091,"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},6218881,"Board approves $352,557.92 vape-sensor purchase for high schools and selected middle schools, funded by opioid grant",1039,7393000,8432000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc&start=7393&end=8432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc/thumbnail_7393000.jpg","/articles/6218881/North-Carolina/Board-approves-35255792-vape-sensor-purchase-for-high-schools-and-selected-middle-schools-funded-by-opioid-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218881-e9c863fcd1af0074bdf53db74b0ce764/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=kuSd8sLwlwbnt07g4iP29IYcWXGotjwn8aF9ka9Y-evRdI~aHyQ0W-RafNOHrH2tf9nY23ND347k8JLRnuAM4d4xxRKPdQKH7QbXG0Ociga84qNT4K5qpC6yhcdJ9nJUJ8PHsfav7xOA4NdPd-9VnaPXlnQ31A3zwxXhnP6BV3~DPgjf~-D7YTXNqDbl1qc-uNRq5pf7nZBejz9b0i9X3zLCm2KiKDLyrhUTo5VP5DzXd7k3~~2lOZ-xf7X1K2y6RjU~szK1I1Zw~t2iSQxbr2M-cpJ0UIc5M8a~GoT3KWxzhyiQkSHDWoyKEzai248Vuh-5YQq6Qfd4XpS0PIHMDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wayne County Board of Education approved a procurement to install vape-detection sensors in high schools and select middle schools, using opioid-grant funding rather than local operating funds.

District staff recommended awarding the bid to ProLogic ITS for $352,557.92 for 149 Triton Ultra sensors and a 10-year software/cloud package. A staff presentation said two lower bids were deemed nonresponsive for missing required documentation about vendor experience and references. The presenter told the board the recommended system \"comes with the cloud package\" and \"would allow analytics\" and would integrate with existing hallway cameras so administrators can pair an alert with nearby video.

The presenter said the district selected schools for initial installation by reviewing last year's incident data and choosing all high schools and middle schools with at least 10 reported vape incidents. The list the presenter read into the record included Charles B. Aycock, Dillard Middle School, Goldsboro High School, Grantham Middle School, Mount Olive Middle School, Norwayne Middle School, Rosewood High School, Southern Wayne High School, Spring Creek High School, Wayne Academy, and Brogden Middle School.

Staff emphasized the purchase is paid from an opioid grant: \"these are specific grant funds that we received for this project,\" the presenter said, adding that the 10-year package extends warranty and licensing beyond the three-year grant period. The presenter also noted the district revised the RFP after initial bids came back higher than expected and that attorney review supported deeming the two lowest proposals nonresponsive and directed minor language removal regarding tariff exceptions from the winning vendor's proposal prior to award.

Board member Leo Henderson moved to approve the ProLogic ITS contract \"for $352,557.92 with the exceptions clause for tariffs on page 14 removed.\" Mr. West seconded the motion. The board voted in favor; the motion passed on a recorded voice vote with all members signaling approval.","After a revised RFP and legal review, the board approved a contract with ProLogic ITS for 149 Triton Ultra vape sensors with a 10-year cloud package to be installed at high schools and selected middle schools using opioid-grant funds.",{"_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},6218887,"Parents and advocates press Wayne County schools for stronger anti-bullying and mental-health responses",732,3164000,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc&start=3164&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc/thumbnail_3164000.jpg","/articles/6218887/North-Carolina/Parents-and-advocates-press-Wayne-County-schools-for-stronger-anti-bullying-and-mental-health-responses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218887-850d78874d3b03f3c0fece1a4a750655/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=K7DD5MiLmykBmgt2uoFNdYgmMuHdkuNpp-vann6dCbWt8lwVae8ZIo7M-pLuIwjTZ47K4HhMLEFsndZpS0ETRj6K4y~KBPVVWzlzgXx9swvfv3~LqxNRyz3OrQ2Lh~oj20~N7M18MDmjuZNxWqQyQZs5g4ANo3j4wM2jwuIy4Ni85BAhKTUnI5mG4PAPViL3JPz7JZgu1EgNL-Q7uG5zI2cMtjj14DXSGNAt6DTazIgglZozArhv1mHWnoAyWsCpNZx8AKD~U--VaDg1Ok~IKX~75HqXi7olkDiTSV43RakChLDNkMDCw-7pLjCP1D74j2zXZB2k69cCWXLU493iLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, a community advocate and school employees used the board's public-comment time to press Wayne County school leaders for clearer responses to bullying and expanded mental-health supports.

Jocelyn Wallace, a therapist at Goldsboro Counseling Center, said she works across the county and asked, \"what do I do as an advocator? What do I tell them? How do I help?\" She described repeated instances where callers and parents received inconsistent responses from schools and referenced a recent death: \"we've had a 12 year old to commit suicide recently in this community, and that saddens me deeply. This bullying has got to stop.\"

Nicole Lofton, who said she works with children across the community, said behavior is often driven by \"a root cause\" outside school and called for a coordinated, communitywide response: \"as people who are in charge of our children I think, teachers, I think administrations, I think counselors when you see something, you know what I'm saying, a change in a student, it's always a root cause for behavior.\" Lofton urged the board to \"look at what's going on with our youth\" and to \"tweak some things\" over the summer.

Kathy Larson, who also spoke about arts cuts, referenced bullying when describing how students' nonacademic needs affect behavior.

Superintendent Dr. Richard responded that bullying today is \"very, very different\" than in the past because incidents are repeatedly replayed on electronic devices and said that is why he \"stand[s] so firmly behind keeping electronic devices out of our... classrooms.\" He added, \"We do have robust policies in place that we stand behind... We will not tolerate knowing that a child is being bullied and not take action.\" He said administrators and the board care about these issues and that district staff work daily \"to make a positive difference for this school system.\"

Board members and staff noted they will review current policies and resources; during a later agenda item on vaping sensors, staff said the policy committee will consider an \"alternative to suspension cessation program\" that would offer substance-abuse counseling and resources as an alternative for students caught with vapes. No immediate policy change was adopted during the meeting.","Multiple community members testified about persistent bullying and the mental-health consequences for students; the superintendent described existing policies and referenced technology's role in amplifying harm.",{"_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},6218891,"Wayne County residents urge board to protect public schools as voucher spending and arts cuts continue",548,3009000,3557000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc&start=3009&end=3557","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624471-76252c06d96dc51a5a400f1854ebf7fc/thumbnail_3009000.jpg","/articles/6218891/North-Carolina/Wayne-County-residents-urge-board-to-protect-public-schools-as-voucher-spending-and-arts-cuts-continue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218891-c53cd7318e9626d91727a9edcb8c54f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=Lz7abH4eJsOUAblRDJpEhjVLKJVh9b02pF1eikq-bqC~Vj0heaNDwdjnNp0M9m3L-0Auvi4GA6B9BrWYqYUQ1upJe5TrFtczmzn1GdT5qS4wsL4QoFsRFYJeVaq53AkLTmDO3oXcvirTSPaU7no0pZS-sWbqELwPN~VCrQhAymjkrqwiKPK7eFCfQBxNVDEqwW4FQPd5RYsV7nu2tcp3sG31SZyiDr2iHHZYWHYrfw9kWcM9qU4~DRg9Hg8scSZnV09YcqFy8F-P3XVcUrzS2kv4emBoj7bn9b~duBhGKUQe01shN5KezkJ1xsLNcpHfCNExc3jCFijwgLS3bnNvCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at a Wayne County Board of Education meeting urged the board to oppose the state's expansion of private school vouchers and to act to preserve arts positions after recent and proposed cuts to arts staffing.

Zaire Webb, a Wayne County native and a senior at East Carolina University, told the board, \"We are currently we've already spent in in our last budget a hundred and $85,000,000 on private school vouchers, while our public schools are being cut time and time again.\" Webb said the state plans \"to push over close to a half a billion dollars to private school vouchers in the next coming up budget\" and reported that \"these school vouchers... about 7,000 in total\" go largely to families with higher incomes, saying \"over half of them make a hundred and $15,000 a year.\" Webb added, \"We're giving out money to the wealthy when we need to be giving money to the people that actually need it.\"

Kathy Larson, identified as a Wayne County parent, said she is \"concerned about what we've been hearing about even more, cuts to arts education positions across our county in the coming years.\" Larson read excerpts from the board's March statement declaring March Arts in Our Schools Month, then said, \"from a parent's perspective, it looks like there's a huge disconnect between those words and what is actually happening in our schools... Our kids don't need well written statements. They need arts teachers. They need arts education. They need action.\"

The board did not take an action on funding or staffing during the public-comment segment. In response to concerns about arts and staffing, Dr. Richard, speaking as superintendent, said that funding for instructional positions \"comes for instructional positions in Wayne County Public Schools in a number of categories from state taxpayer dollars\" and that \"enhancement funded positions, which are the arts and other positions, come from a different state funding allotment source.\" He added, \"I am a superintendent that stands firmly behind the arts, but I have to have the dollars to be able to support those things.\" Dr. Richard warned that the district cannot spend money it does not have: \"We cannot pay our utility bill from our savings account. That will come to a bad end in a short period of time.\"

Speakers and commenters urged the board to explore creative local solutions and to consider ways to preserve arts positions while acknowledging the limits the superintendent described on reallocating funds.

No formal motion or vote on vouchers or arts staffing changes occurred during the meeting; the remarks were part of the public-comment period.","Public commenters at the Wayne County Board of Education meeting criticized expanding private school vouchers and warned that cuts to arts positions are weakening public schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves budget amendment increasing appropriations; fund balance projected at about $11.95 million

Board approves $352,557.92 vape-sensor purchase for high schools and selected middle schools, funded by opioid grant

Parents and advocates press Wayne County schools for stronger anti-bullying and mental-health responses

Wayne County residents urge board to protect public schools as voucher spending and arts cuts continue