Catawba County Board of Education approves mental-health plan, roofing contract and other measures; board member Leslie Barnett resigns

The Catawba County Board of Education on Aug. 25 received a resignation letter from board member Leslie H. Barnett and unanimously approved a series of routine and capital items including a state-mandated school mental health improvement plan and a reroofing contract for Maiden High School.

Barnett resignation and moment of silence

Chairman Sedemeyer read a letter from Dr. Leslie H. Barnett announcing her resignation from the board effective Aug. 25, 2025, citing health reasons after “nearly eight years of dedicated service to our schools and community and 42 years of service to Catawba County Schools.” The letter, read aloud by the chairman, said Barnett was “proud of the progress we’ve made together” and closed, “I remain hopeful and confident the board will continue to move forward with strength, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to the success of every child in our schools.” Following the reading a board member requested a moment of silence for Barnett and her family.

Why it matters

The resignation removes an experienced member from the board’s roster at the start of the school year; the board did not announce a replacement process during the meeting. At the same session trustees also addressed several district-wide operational and capital priorities that will affect schools and students across the county.

State-mandated school mental health improvement plan approved

Maria Ballard presented the district’s updated school mental health improvement plan, which the state requires be reviewed and reapproved every five years. Ballard said the plan follows a new state template and includes an employee training requirement (six hours at initial employment, two hours annually thereafter) and a suicide risk screening process; she said the screening process itself was unchanged from the prior submission but contact information was updated.

Board members asked about staffing and materials. Ballard said the district currently has one counselor vacancy and that additional contracted staff (an existing MOU partner) has reported increased applicant activity. Ballard and trustees discussed distributing suicide-prevention resources; Ballard said posters and handouts exist and that…