Board approves MOU, budget amendments and construction contracts; opts for opt‑out on state student‑safety videos

The Brunswick County Board of Education voted on a series of routine and time‑sensitive items at its Jan. 7, 2025 meeting, approving a Boys & Girls Club memorandum of understanding amendment, multiple budget amendments, several construction and service contracts and a district‑wide opt‑out approach for state‑required Protecting Our Students Act materials for grades 6–12.

Votes at a glance

- Boys & Girls Club MOU amendment — Approved (voice vote). Motion by Ms. Smith; second by Ms. Moffitt. Staff described the program as providing after‑school care that supports working families. (Provenance: agenda introduction at 00:30:33; final voice vote at 00:31:52.)

- Protecting Our Students Act implementation (opt‑out for parents) — Approved (voice vote). Motion by Mr. Gainey; second by Ms. Cook. The board directed staff to implement the state legislative requirement for student training and to offer parents the option to opt their children out of the videos (one middle school video; three high‑school videos). Staff will complete train‑the‑trainer sessions on Jan. 21, 2025, and roll the materials to schools over the next months. The district cited North Carolina statute as identified in the packet (noted in the meeting as North Carolina Journal Statute 115 C 12 47). (Provenance: initial presentation at 00:31:56; motion and approval concluded at 00:39:32.)

- Budget amendments (capital, federal, special revenue, state allotments) — Approved (voice vote). Staff said amendments record DPI‑purchased buses, federal carryovers and final state allotments, and small grants for science and technology. (Provenance: presentation began at 00:39:44; approval concluded at 00:44:26.)

- South Brunswick High School fire alarm replacement — Approved (voice vote). Motion to award Keller LLC for $515,445 for a complete system replacement, work scheduled for this summer. (Provenance: presentation at 00:42:15; vote at 00:43:09.)

- Belleville Elementary roofing project — Approved (voice vote). Staff reported five bids; the lowest (including alternates) was presented in transcript as "2,000,000, dollars 10,920" (transcript wording). Board approved the contract so ordering and summer work can proceed. (Provenance: presentation at 00:43:36; vote at 00:48:00.)

- Custodial contract funding — Approved (voice vote). Staff described that up to 19 custodial openings could require up to $292,000 in contracted services for remainder of the year; the district will reallocate funds from vacant positions as openings are filled. (Provenance: presentation at 00:44:45; vote at 00:49:56.)

- Town Creek Elementary Phase 1 closeout and return of unused funds — Approved (voice vote). Staff said Phase 1 completed on budget and requested return of $269,394.73 in unused funds to the owner. (Provenance: presentation at 00:46:39; vote at 00:50:04.)

- Personnel list (post‑closed session) — Approved (voice vote). The board reconvened from closed session and approved the personnel list as written. (Provenance: reconvened open session at 02:29:14; motion and approval at 02:29:50.)

What the board said and asked

Board members who spoke in favor cited timeliness for completing construction this summer and the practical need to set opt‑out rather than opt‑in for the Protecting Our Students Act rollout, noting prior low return rates on opt‑in forms. Staff said district communications will follow established opt‑out procedures and that online opt‑out will be available.

Why it matters: the actions authorize construction and service contracts that affect summer work on school buildings, formalize after‑school programming support and set the district's approach to implementing a state‑required student training program.