Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School board members say county withheld some capital funds, delaying athletic improvements
Summary
Board members told the Halifax County School Board meeting that the county Board of Supervisors limited access to some capital buckets, delaying planned athletic-field and high‑school improvements and prompting a canceled meeting with county officials.
Board members at a Halifax County Public Schools meeting said the Board of Supervisors granted access to two funding “buckets” but withheld others, delaying planned improvements to athletic fields and related work tied to the new high school.
Board members said the supervisors voted 6‑2 on Aug. 19 to allow access to two accounts but would not release additional accounts school officials had expected to use for the athletic complex and other capital projects. School board members said access to the withheld accounts was delayed pending an audit of county books, and that a scheduled meeting with county officials to review funding options was canceled after an email and phone call from county leadership.
The issue drew sustained comment from multiple board members, who said the delay has impeded progress on projects the school division planned to fund through capital accounts. One board speaker said the school division had not intended to use carryover operating funds to pay for the projects and questioned why some capital accounts were unavailable.
An email excerpt read aloud at the meeting attributed to William Clayborn, identified in meeting remarks as chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, said he and an interim county finance official had discussed payments and agreed that a previously scheduled meeting was unnecessary. The email concluded, “Signed sincerely William Clayborn.” School board members said a follow‑up phone call with county staff was curt and did not resolve outstanding questions about when or whether the remaining accounts would be available.
Board members also referenced a 1% sales tax enacted in July 2020 intended for school capital projects and said they expected that revenue to be available for some work; school officials said they were not granted access to that bucket. The board speaker who described the situation requested more transparency and urged county leadership to make funds accessible so projects aimed at benefiting students could proceed.
The board did not make a formal motion or vote on the matter during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript. The school board presentation described the situation as ongoing and said staff would continue to seek clarification and options with county officials.
Background: School officials said the funds in question are intended for capital projects such as athletic fields and facility improvements tied to the recently opened high school. Board members said some scheduled work remains on the high school punch list and that delayed access to capital accounts affects scheduling and procurement timelines.
The school board did not provide a timetable at the meeting for when the withheld accounts might be released or when the county audit would conclude. The county Board of Supervisors was referenced in meeting comments; school officials said they would continue to pursue meetings with county leadership to resolve access to the funds.
