Lenoir County Board approves construction vendor, nursing contracts and contingency authority; several policies and personnel actions pass

The Lenoir County Board of Education voted Aug. 4 to approve a range of items tied to the district's capital program and operations, including awarding a testing-and-inspection contract for the E.B. Franklin Middle School construction project, renewing school nursing contracts and authorizing the superintendent to use owner's contingency funds up to $100,000 for individual items between board meetings.

The actions matter because the Franklin construction work is ongoing and the board's approvals clear vendors and short-term spending rules that district staff said are needed to prevent project delays. The nursing contracts fund school nurses who respond to day-to-day student health needs and can support emergency shelter operations, the board was told.

The board approved ECS (ECS Southwest LLC) as the vendor for testing and special inspections for the E.B. Franklin Middle School construction project after the district re-advertised the request for proposals and received three responses. The vendor selection was presented by district staff; the motion to approve was made by Board Member Peele and seconded by Board Member Wiggins. The board approved the recommendation by voice/hand vote without objection.

District staff also presented two contracts with the Lenoir County Health Department to fund school…