Board confirms July 15 notice to proceed for E.B. Frank Middle School; land transfer recorded, terrazzo cost/timeline resolved

The Lenoir County Board of Education heard a construction update June 30 and was told that notice-to-proceed letters for the E.B. Frank Middle School project will be issued the week of July 15, 2025, allowing subcontractors to begin on-site work immediately upon receipt.

Board members were also told that the land for the new middle school has been transferred to Lenoir County Public Schools and the deed recorded at the register of deeds, and that the district's attorneys have approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the project.

The construction update matters because it fixes the district's timeline and clarifies costs that had been uncertain. With a recorded land transfer and an approved GMP, contractors can mobilize and the district can plan occupancy and related school operations. The board was also briefed on a change in the flooring plan and a revised construction timeline that avoids previously proposed extra-expense expedited work.

According to the update, attorneys for the district and the construction contractor reached agreement on the GMP after several rounds of review. A district representative said, "contractors will begin their work the week of 07/15/2025." Board members were told a previous statement at an earlier meeting that construction would start in June was incorrect and that the formal notification process will begin in mid-July.

On site control, the board was told all town and district signatures for the land transfer had been completed and the transfer recorded at the register of deeds. The presenters said the district resolved an outstanding issue with a local farmer who had begun planting on the parcel; termination documents were completed as part of the transfer process.

Flooring and schedule: board members discussed adding terrazzo flooring. The presentation said materials for terrazzo would add about $400,000 and labor about $200,000 (roughly $600,000 in total) versus the base flooring, and that an earlier contractor proposal that would have expedited the work for nearly $500,000 has been removed. Under the revised plan described to the board, there will be no additional contractor surcharge for expediting; keys that had been expected in December will instead be turned over in January, with a transition period in February and planned occupancy in March (presenters said mid-April remained a possible later target if scheduling required adjustments).

Officials credited Metcon and its owner, Aaron Thomas, and district staff, including Rob Malone, for negotiating the timeline and contract details. The district's attorneys at Tharrington Smith reviewed and approved the GMP, the update stated.

Other items and recognitions: Superintendent and staff announced continuing career partnerships with industry partners, including Crown Equipment Company's apprenticeship program (the district said Crown has consistently hired program participants and helped fund training), and mentioned ongoing efforts to expand similar partnerships with other employers. The board acknowledged educators and students: Jessica Jones of Whittington Middle School was named the district's Career and Technical Education teacher of the year and a state finalist; Dr. Stephanie Harrell was named to the North Carolina Space Education Ambassadors cohort in partnership with NASA Langley; and the district reported total scholarship offers for the Class of 2025 at $33,000,000 across its high schools (South Lenoir $11.8 million; North Lenoir $9.6 million; Kinston $10.2 million; Lenoir County Early College $1.4 million). The district also reported 65 students earned two-year associate degrees while in high school and noted more than 100 students honored as North Carolina Scholars.

Votes at a glance (motions and outcomes recorded during the meeting): - Motion to approve the June 30, 2025 board meeting agenda: approved (show of hands). - Motion to approve minutes of the previous meeting: approved (show of hands). - Motion to approve Budget Amendment No. 5 for fiscal year 2024-25: approved (mover stated as Mr. Hill; second stated as Mr. Wiggins; vote by show of hands). - Motion to approve the 2025-26 budget resolution (based on planning allotments and estimated revenues): approved (second noted; vote by show of hands). - Motion to approve the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) plan for 2025-28: approved (show of hands). - Motion to approve the 2025-26 driver's education contract with Jordan Driving School: approved (show of hands). - Motion to approve vendors for the 2025-26 school year, with a reported change that Riverside Paper won a paper bid previously thought won by Cisco: approved (show of hands). - Motion to deem Early College High School MacBooks surplus and authorize disposal/sale with proceeds returned to the Early College: approved (show of hands). - Motion to declare surplus items as presented: approved (mover Mr. Hill; second Mr. Burrett; show of hands). - Motion to enter closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11 (to discuss confidential personnel and consult counsel): approved; the board entered closed session.

Discussion versus formal action: the most substantive deliberation concerned the middle school construction timeline, the GMP, and whether to include terrazzo floors. Other agenda items (budget amendments, AIG plan, vendor list, driver's education contract, surplus declarations) were presented and approved with little discussion. The transcript records that the earlier statement about a June start was corrected on the record to a July notice-to-proceed schedule.

What's next: presenters said the GMP signature and formal notices to contractors were expected to be finalized the week of July 15, 2025, after which mobilization will expand on site. The district said it will provide ongoing construction updates to the board as work proceeds.

(See the accompanying "Actions" and "Provenance" fields for motions, vote details as recorded in the meeting, and transcript excerpts supporting this article.)