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Board approves minutes, personnel report, budget amendments and construction projects; Denmark trip cleared
Summary
At its Jan. 13 meeting the Iredell-Statesville Schools board unanimously approved personnel actions, corrected minutes, budget amendments and several project and program approvals while taking first readings on multiple policy changes and receiving a federal Title IX ruling update.
The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education, meeting in open session on Jan. 13, approved a series of routine and non-routine items by unanimous votes and received briefings on district policy and federal legal developments.
Votes at a glance - Personnel report: Motion to approve the personnel report carried 7-0. The board earlier praised personnel staff for recruitment efforts. - Minutes: The board approved minutes for Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, 2024, with a correction to the Lake Norman High School stadium/field cost and inclusion of the December 9 personnel report in the public record; motion passed 7-0. - Lake Norman High School Denmark exchange: The board approved a student-funded international exchange trip that staff said has run since 2007; vote 7-0. - Budget amendments: The board approved budget amendments presented by Mr. Adam Steele and Ms. Maggie Becker; vote 7-0. Staff explained recent state enrollment-driven revenue and accounting changes and said an enrollment increase of 297 students produced roughly $1.7 million in state funding. - Statesville High School ramp modification: Board approved the ramp/concession-area access modification (project bid costs explained by Mr. Shankarik) by voice vote, 7-0. - New elementary school name: The board approved the name Parkertown Elementary School for the district's new elementary campus; vote 7-0.
Policy briefings and legal update Several policies were presented for first reading (not a vote): remote participation (policy 2302), federal grant administration (policies 6430/6450/8305), minority business participation (policy 9125), tobacco and vaping definitions (policy 4320) and bullying/harassment (policy 4329/7311). The items will return for second reading at a future meeting.
In-house legal counsel Dean Shatley briefed the board on a Jan. 9 federal court order in the Eastern District of Kentucky that vacated the Department of Education's August 2024 Title IX regulatory updates for K-12 and higher education. Shatley said the district will revert to the 2020 Title IX regulations unless and until the ruling is overturned on appeal.
Superintendent remarks and public comment Superintendent Jeff James and public commenters highlighted teacher recruitment, retention and pay as central issues affecting student performance. James said state funding formulas and teacher pay levels make recruiting and retaining licensed teachers difficult and reiterated that the district's enrollment increase produced additional state dollars but that the state's funding structure constrains local choices.
Ending Board members set a Jan. 27 strategic goal review (no public comment period) and scheduled the next regular meeting for Feb. 3. Several items discussed Jan. 13 will return for follow-up and second readings as required by board policy.
