Lake Norman Charter board approves budget amendment, Huntersville joint-use amendment and handbook updates

Lake Norman Charter’s Board of Directors at its May meeting approved a set of administrative changes and one-time budget updates, voted to amend a joint‑use agreement with the Town of Huntersville covering new tennis courts and related upkeep, and adopted revisions to the student handbook and a proposed additional core value for the school’s Portrait of a Graduate.

The finance update and approval of Budget Amendment No. 2 led the meeting. Miss Wilson (finance staff) told the board the school’s balance sheet shows roughly $16.3 million in assets, about $60,000 in payables and about $14.9 million in equity. She said year‑to‑date revenue through March was about $20 million and expenditures about $14 million, with capital expenditures and debt service of just over $2 million; netted against timing effects, the school reported an approximate $2.3 million surplus as of March and a projected net change in fund balance for the year of about $604,000. “We did receive growth funding from the state,” Miss Wilson said, adding the school also collected E‑Rate funds, an SRO grant, and state teacher bonuses and earned interest income after shifting operating cash into a money market account.

Why it matters: the amendment reflects roughly $1.6 million in net changes from Amendment No. 1, most of which the finance presenter described as one‑time or timing‑driven receipts and reimbursements (bond reimbursements, ERC receipts and related interest). Miss Wilson said any major changes will be brought back as Budget Amendment No. 3 when the fiscal year is closed.

Votes at a glance - Budget Amendment No. 2 — Motion to approve moved by Amy (board member), seconded by Nicole (board member). Vote: all in favor; motion passed. - Joint‑use agreement amendment with the Town of Huntersville (elementary gym, tennis courts, maintenance terms and related usage) — Motion to approve recommended by Nicole (board member); second not specified on record. Vote: all in favor; motion passed. The town will contribute $650,000 and take responsibility for long‑term maintenance of the tennis courts and associated facilities, the amendment specifies. - Addition to core values / Portrait of a Graduate language — Motion moved (mover not specified), seconded by Sarah (board member). Vote: all in favor; motion passed. The proposed wording accepted by the board begins: “LNC intentionally teaches and celebrates durable skills such as communication, critical thinking, and adaptability alongside academics to prepare students to lead, contribute, and thrive in an ever‑evolving world beyond the classroom.” - Handbook amendments (consolidation of extracurricular code, updated AI expectations, attendance/credit clarifications, ban on Crocs at elementary, discipline matrix and other clerical updates) — Motion to approve moved (mover not specified), seconded by Jared (board member). Vote: all in favor; motion passed. - Motion to enter closed session pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes 143‑318.11(a)(6) — Moved by Greg (board member); second not specified. Vote: all in favor; motion passed.

Telehealth and student mental‑health services The board heard that a telehealth partnership with Atrium Health, initiated after pandemic‑era gaps, is active and serving students during the school day. The presenter reported 22 middle‑school students and five high‑school students were receiving mental‑health services through the program, with a private space and secure device provided onsite. School leaders said early results include observable improvements in behavior and performance for some students who accessed the service.

Elementary West construction and joint‑use notes Board members received an update on construction of the Elementary West campus: foundation work is complete for the south wing and site work along McElwain Road was described as showing the building’s footprint. The approved amendment to the town’s joint‑use agreement adds tennis courts and pickleball areas adjacent to the campus; Huntersville will provide $650,000 and assume long‑term upkeep and resurfacing. Board discussion addressed scheduling and safety coordination (town use daytime hours, right of first refusal for school events, signage and parking), and school staff said the design places most public courts away from playgrounds and core student activity areas.

Student recognition and service project The board paused for community and student highlights. Carter Noel, a high‑school senior and Key Club vice president of service, described a project in which Key Club students created roughly 1,100 encouraging note cards for elementary and middle‑school students ahead of end‑of‑grade exams; Carter said the effort took “an afternoon after school for maybe 30 minutes” per volunteer session and expressed hope the project continues after he graduates. Jennifer Beige, a middle‑school counselor, told the board the cards provided timely emotional support and helped reduce test anxiety for younger students.

Future Ready and Portrait of a Graduate The Future Ready committee and district staff presented refined language for an additional core value emphasizing “durable skills” (communication, critical thinking, adaptability) and graphic concepts for a brand integration. Dr. Grama (Future Ready committee lead) summarized the committee’s work and said the design and descriptors will be coordinated with communications and launched for board review; the board voted to accept the value proposition as presented.

Handbook updates and dual‑enrollment concerns The board approved a consolidated extracurricular code and a number of updates to the student handbook. Staff emphasized a clarified rule that students with an F in a class are ineligible for field trips and extracurricular privileges until resolved; leaders said that policy applies broadly to field trips and was the proximate cause of recent senior‑trip eligibility disputes. School staff described measures to improve monitoring and supports for dually enrolled students (CP/CPCC), including an additional high‑school counselor and enhanced regular check‑ins so withdrawals or instructor setbacks at partner colleges do not come as surprises to families or the school.

Other items and next steps Board members were told the school received interest and one‑time ERC receipts (about $300,000 in interest on an earlier award), and that the SRO grant and state teacher bonuses were included in the finance presentation. The board scheduled its October meeting at the new Elementary West campus and approved the staff’s request to sign the joint‑use amendment following the vote.

The board moved into closed session at the end of the public meeting under North Carolina General Statutes 143‑318.11(a)(6).