Iredell-Statesville board approves gym floor, meeting calendar and several policy updates; tables Lake Norman easement

The Iredell-Statesville Board of Education on Feb. 10 approved a slate of routine and nonroutine items, including a $210,000 award for a new gym floor at Statesville High, adoption of several policy updates and a new meeting calendar for 2025–26, and it postponed action on an easement at Lake Norman High School.

The moves were taken across a series of separate motions that the board handled in the meeting’s business portion. Several items received unanimous approval; the calendar and one construction selection drew split votes.

Why it matters: The votes advance near-term facilities work and update board rules to reflect recent state law and federal grant guidance. The calendar decision sets how frequently the board will meet next year and affects when the board and administration schedule deeper policy, budget and school-performance work.

Votes at a glance: consent, facilities, calendar, policies, committee

- Consent agenda: The board approved routine items on the consent agenda (personnel report and minutes from Jan. 6, Jan. 13, Jan. 27). Motion to approve was entered and carried 6–0.

- Statesville High gym floor (Southern Flooring): The board approved awarding the work to the low bidder, Southern Flooring, for $210,000. District staff said the floor is roughly 30 years old and work would occur during the summer over about six to eight weeks. Vote: 6–0.

- Easement at Lake Norman High School: Board members postponed consideration of the easement to the next meeting to allow staff to gather more information. Motion to postpone passed 6–0.

- 2025–26 board meeting calendar: The board considered three calendar options and adopted option 2, which reduces the number of Committee of the Whole (CAL) meetings compared with the most frequent schedule. The motion to adopt option 2 carried 4–2. Supporters said the schedule allows the administration to use called meetings for deeper dives; opponents said fewer scheduled meetings would reduce predictability and forum time for public input.

- Policy updates (each approved 6–0): The board approved revisions on the following policies (second reading and vote): • Policy 2302, remote participation (removes remote voting to conform with recent state law/court guidance); • Policy 8305, federal grant administration (language to conform with federal Uniform Guidance); • Policy 9125, participation by minority businesses (updates state-law definition of minority business); • Policy 4320, tobacco products (updates definition to include vaping and related devices for students); • Policy 4329/7311, bullying/harassing behavior prohibited (updates wording to change "principal designate" to "supervisor or investigator" where appropriate).

- ISS legislative ad hoc committee: The board approved formation of an Iredell-Statesville Schools legislative ad hoc committee to interface with local and state elected officials. The committee membership approved at the Feb. 10 meeting is board members Rhonda Hoke and Kevin Angel; the board instructed the committee to report quarterly and to reevaluate after one year. Vote: 6–0.

- Parkertown Elementary construction manager at risk (CMAR): The board approved the selection of J.M. Cope Construction as the CMAR for Parkertown Elementary following a qualifications-based selection process and reference checks. The motion passed 5–1. (See separate article for details and discussion of the selection process.)

What the board said: Chairman Doug Knight, identified himself at the start of the meeting as chair of the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education. Board members who spoke during the calendar discussion offered differing views on the trade-offs between scheduled committee meetings and using called meetings for deeper work.

What happens next: For contracted construction work and large projects, staff and the selected firms will return with guaranteed maximum price (GMP) proposals or more detailed phase budgets for board approval. Policy changes take effect per district rules. The calendar will be used to schedule committee and board work through 2026.

Ending note: Several board members asked for more regular committee reporting so noncommittee members stay informed; staff said documentation and recorded materials from selection committees can be provided on request.