Board to seek restart designation for four schools as members debate causes of low performance and need for more funding

Iredell-Statesville Schools officials said they will ask the Board of Education next week to approve applications to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to designate Statesville High, Third Creek Middle, Trauma Middle and West Iredell High as restart schools; NB Mills will remain a restart school because it met growth targets.

The restart designation allows schools identified as low performing by the state to use certain charter-like flexibilities for budgets, staffing, calendars and course offerings, staff said. Jonathan Rybick, who presented the item with Kelly Cooper, said the district must first authorize staff to apply; the DPI must then approve each school's restart plan.

Why it matters: Restart designation is a formal pathway that changes allowable staffing and budget arrangements for schools the state…