Board hears $7.3 million Title I application; district officials cite supports for homeless students and pre-K

District staff told the New Hanover County Board of Education on July 29 that the district’s federal Title I application for 2025–26 requests $7.3 million, and described how those funds would be allocated to schools and specific services. The superintendent’s office explained the application includes set-asides the district must show on the application: $96,000 for parent and family involvement, $54,000 for services related to homeless students, $636,000 for administration (including software and professional development), and $150,000 for additional supports for TSI/CSI schools. The presenters said Title I will include support for pre-K this year after local reductions required the district to reinstate pre-K within the Title I budget. Board member Josie Barnhart asked how many students were identified as homeless. District staff answered that the most recent count was 864, then corrected that figure in an exchange that recorded “not 864 — 829,” during the meeting; presenters said records would be confirmed. Board member Tim Merrick asked whether the $100,000 the district set aside for potential salaries would be limited to Title I schools; staff said yes, it would be targeted to Title I schools. Presenters said the application includes carryover from fiscal 2025 and that the district has been operating in part on that carryover; the district said it is filing the application now to secure new funds before carryover funds are exhausted. The board did not take a vote on the application during the agenda-review meeting; staff described the application as an informational item and answered members’ questions about carryover, funding allocations and school-level planning.