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Board approves audit contract, budget amendments, contracts and procurement plan; posts 2025–26 draft calendars for comment
Summary
The Caldwell County Board of Education approved multiple routine business items including an audit engagement, two budget amendments, a speech-language services contract, the child nutrition procurement plan, personnel actions and the posting of draft 2025–26 calendars for public comment. The board recessed into a closed session on personnel.
At its meeting, the Caldwell County Board of Education approved a set of routine business items in a series of voice votes, including an audit engagement, two budget amendments, a contract for speech-language services, a new procurement plan for child nutrition, several human resources actions and the posting of draft 2025–26 school calendars for public comment.
David Johnson, finance assistant superintendent and chief financial officer, presented the annual audit engagement with Anderson Smith and White PLLC for the year ending June 30, 2025. Johnson said the contract carries a $750 increase from the prior engagement and brings the contract total to $38,000; he noted that the 2019 contract with the previous audit firm was $38,800. The board approved the engagement by voice vote.
Johnson also presented two budget amendments. Budget Amendment No. 6 increases the State Public School Fund allocation by $848,676, primarily to cover bonuses paid for Read to Achieve and math bonuses (paid in January) that totaled about $400,000. Budget Amendment No. 7 increases the federal grants fund by $741,681 for newly received federal grant funds. If both amendments are approved, Johnson said the district’s total budget would be $149,980,969.40. The board approved both amendments.
Assistant Superintendent Katrina McKellen and staff presented a contract for speech-language services; the contract as clarified in the meeting provides 7.5 hours per week of direct service and up to two hours of indirect service. The board approved the contract.
Andy Poole, auxiliary services assistant superintendent, presented the procurement plan for the child nutrition department. Poole said the plan follows federal, state and local purchasing requirements and is effective March 10, 2025 until amended. The board approved the procurement plan.
Dr. Thomas Howe, assistant superintendent for human resource services, asked the board to approve several routine HR items: informational leaves and resignations, approvals for classified and part-time employee contracts, an updated substitute list and March student transfer requests (both in-county and out-of-county). Each was adopted by voice vote.
Superintendent Dr. Don Peterson asked the board to post draft 2025–26 calendars (traditional, Early College and CASA) for public comment. Board members discussed the length of the comment period; no change to the standard posting practice was recorded and the board voted to post the calendars for public comment.
Before adjourning the open session, the board voted to enter closed session to discuss confidential personnel matters under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(1). The meeting record shows no action taken on return from closed session.
