Caldwell County Board of Education approves 2025–26 calendar, budget requests and contracts

The Caldwell County Board of Education on April 14 approved the district—s 2025—6 school calendars for traditional schools and for the Early College/CASA programs, a $647,399 funding request to county commissioners and multiple budget, personnel and procurement items during a regular meeting at the Education Center.

The board also approved a revised summer remediation and re‑administration plan the district updated after a North Carolina Department of Public Instruction memo dated April 2.

Superintendent Dr. Phipps, introducing the calendars, said the district must follow state limits on start dates and instructional time: "The requirement in the calendar law that we follow requires that we have 1,025 instructional hours or 185 days," he said, and noted that state law constrains how early the district can start school. The board approved both the traditional and the Early College/CASA calendars by voice vote; one member recorded an opposed voice during the final tally.

David Johnson, finance assistant superintendent and chief financial officer, presented two budget amendments and summarized amounts the board approved. He said the state public school fund budget amendment totaled $628,986, reflecting a final allocation for the district—s safety equipment grant and additional transportation allotment. A second amendment moving and reconciling federal grant object codes totaled $21,056. If approved, Johnson said, the changes bring the district—s total budget to $150,631,011.88.

Johnson also presented the district—s funding request to the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners. The board approved submitting a request for $647,399 to the county, which Johnson said includes $447,399 proposed for a 4% salary-and-benefit increase and an inflationary increase of $200,000 for utilities and operational costs. The transcript did not specify the precise number of locally paid employees covered by the proposed 4% increase.

Dr. McAllen presented the revised summer remediation and re‑administration plan, saying the April 2 memo from the Department of Public Instruction "allowed us some more freedom or leeway" and the revision expands the window during which schools may remediate and re‑administer End‑of‑Grade and End‑of‑Course tests. "We have to have parental permission in order for students to participate in the remediation and re‑administration, and this allows us to provide these services during the school day," Dr. McAllen said, adding that principals were instructed to ensure students do not miss end‑of‑year celebrations such as field day.

The board approved a 60‑month contract with Republic Services for district waste collection and disposal by voice vote. No contract dollar amount was included in the meeting transcript provided.

Human resources items presented by Dr. Thomas Howe, assistant superintendent for human resource services, were also approved. The board voted to approve usual and customary contract items, a substitute list (the presentation noted that many substitutes are student teachers), and April board transfers for the 2025–26 school year.

Board members and staff repeatedly emphasized constraints imposed by state law during the calendar discussion—6including mandated start dates and pay‑period considerations for staff—6and said they had adjusted parent‑teacher conference and optional planning days to better balance grading periods without adding instructional days.

The board closed the evening by moving into a closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3) to discuss personnel; the chair said no action was expected upon returning to open session.

Votes at a glance: - Approve revised summer remediation and re‑administration plan: approved (voice vote). Related discussion: parental permission required; services may be offered during the school day (NC DPI memo April 2). - Approve Budget Amendment #8 (State Public School Fund): $628,986; approved (voice vote). - Approve Budget Amendment #9 (Federal Grants Fund): $21,056; approved (voice vote). - Approve 2025–26 funding request to county commissioners: $647,399 (includes $447,399 for a 4% salary/benefit increase and $200,000 inflationary increase for utilities/operations); approved (voice vote). - Approve Republic Services 60‑month contract: approved (voice vote). Contract amount: not specified in transcript. - Approve human resources usual-and-customary contract items, substitute list, and April 2025–26 board transfers: approved (voice votes). - Approve 2025–26 school calendars (traditional and Early College/CASA): approved (voice vote; one member opposed).

Ending: The board adjourned into closed session under statute cited above; no public actions were announced following the closed session in the provided transcript.