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School board approves agenda amendments, several contracts and course-guide changes; Arabic course deferred
Summary
The New Hanover County School Board approved amendments to the meeting agenda, several contracts including a five‑year financial‑software license, and changes to the 2025–26 course guide while deferring a proposed Arabic world‑language course for later consideration.
The New Hanover County School Board on the January regular meeting voted to approve amendments to the meeting agenda, move forward with multiple consensus items and contracts, and accept updates to the 2025–26 course guide while holding the proposed Arabic course for further review.
The board first approved two amendments to the meeting agenda — adding a 10‑minute Old Business discussion on LifeVac devices and adding a letter of support for teacher pay increases under New Business — by voice vote, each passing 6 to 0. The board then approved the minutes of the previous meeting, also by a 6‑0 vote.
Under consensus items, the board approved a package that included contract extensions into fiscal 2026. Board members discussed one contract detail during the meeting: a financial‑software purchase that the packet lists at $155,000 covering five years (about $30,000 per year). The motion to approve the contracts passed 6 to 0.
On course offerings for 2025–26, board members approved upgrades and state‑driven course name changes but voted to hold the specific addition of an Arabic world‑language course pending additional information. The motion to approve the course guide excluding the Arabic course passed 6 to 0. Board members said they want more data on enrollment, certification and scheduling before adding a new language offering.
The board also approved a letter of support urging the state General Assembly to raise the minimum teacher base salary and provide a minimum 5% raise for certified and noncertified staff. Trustees amended the letter to remove a named official and then approved sending the amended letter to state legislators; the final vote on transmitting the letter passed 5 to 1 after an earlier procedural amendment removing the referenced name passed 6 to 0.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to amend the agenda to add a 10‑minute Old Business discussion on LifeVac devices — Passed 6 to 0. - Motion to amend the agenda to add a letter of support for teacher pay increases under New Business — Passed 6 to 0. - Motion to approve minutes as written — Passed 6 to 0. - Motion to approve consensus items including contract extensions (notably a $155,000, five‑year financial‑software purchase) — Passed 6 to 0. - Motion to approve the 2025–26 course guide while holding the Arabic world‑language addition for further review — Passed 6 to 0. - Motion to amend the teacher‑pay letter to remove the named official from the heading — Passed 6 to 0. - Motion to transmit the amended teacher‑pay letter to the General Assembly — Passed 5 to 1.
What happens next
Board members and staff said the outstanding questions about the Arabic class (enrollment, teacher certification, and timing for student registration) will be answered before any formal adoption; registration for next‑year courses begins in February. Staff also noted the district is transitioning its student management system, and some course‑name changes were required by the state. The board’s policy committee is scheduled to meet Jan. 21 and will take up several items from this meeting’s Old Business and follow‑up requests.
