Henderson County school board accepts clean audit, approves bleacher replacement, policies and other actions

The Henderson County Board of Public Education on April 14 accepted a clean financial audit for fiscal year 2023–24, approved a lottery application, awarded a $450,000 contract to replace hurricane-damaged visitor bleachers at East Henderson High School, and adopted a package of policy updates that align local rules with federal guidance and raise certain micro‑purchase thresholds for federally funded projects.

Audit and finances: The board’s external auditors reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on the district’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and found no single‑audit findings on state or federal awards. The auditors noted governmental fund revenues of about $158 million for 2024 (down from the prior year after excluding the prior‑year construction spike) and an unrestricted general fund balance of roughly $4.8 million (about 14% of general fund expenditures).

Lottery and capital: The board approved submission of a North Carolina Education Lottery application covering an available distribution of $967,183.14; staff said the funds will be applied to debt service previously dedicated to Hillandale and Mills River elementary school construction bonds. On capital projects, the board voted to award a low bid to Jay Bartholomew Construction to replace the visitor bleachers at East Henderson for $450,000. Staff said insurance, FEMA and a recently announced state Helene‑damage allocation (about $500,000)…