Board rescinds NSBA policy rescission request and debates superintendent contract‑approval notification threshold

The Craven County Board of Education acted on several governance items July 15, rescinding one policy recommendation and debating proposed language that would require the superintendent to report contracts executed below the established $90,000 threshold. Board members voted, by voice/raised hands, to rescind policy 72‑32 (discrimination and harassment in the workplace) as recommended by the North Carolina School Boards Association. The rescission motion passed without recorded dissent. On a separate policy that would keep superintendent signing authority for contracts up to $90,000 but add a requirement that the superintendent "shall disclose to the board on a monthly basis all contracts to be executed that fall below the established threshold requiring prior board approval," board members debated the appropriate notification level and frequency. Supporters argued the board is responsible for budget oversight and deserves notice of expenditures approaching the threshold; opponents said the threshold exists so the superintendent can operate within delegated authority and that routine notifications could duplicate administrative reporting. After extended discussion, a motion to discuss the proposed verbiage with legal counsel in closed session passed by raised hands (the chair noted the vote was in favor by everyone except one board member). The policy will remain at first read pending legal guidance and potential redrafting. Ending: The rescission took immediate effect; the contract‑notification language remains under review and the board will receive legal counsel advice before acting again.