Williamston Board approves bond-funded construction, furniture purchases and personnel hires

Williamston Community Schools Board of Education on May 19 approved multiple motions covering bond-funded construction work, contracts for material testing, classroom furniture purchases and routine personnel hires.

The board unanimously approved a contract with SME for construction material testing related to the softball complex and tennis courts not to exceed $42,500, accepted recommended contractors for the softball complex with a cost not to exceed $1,782,134 funded by the 2024 bond, and approved purchases of high school furniture from KI and Wiser totaling up to $397,414.47 and $288,343.24 (plus 20% for freight/installation), respectively. The board also approved handbooks and several board policy updates and confirmed district representatives for the upcoming intermediate school district (ISD) election.

The votes were taken as separate action items rather than bundled; most actions passed on roll call or unanimous voice votes. The board designated Sarah Bellinger as its voting representative to the ISD electoral body and Heather Gorslein as alternate, and directed its representative to cast first-ballot votes for Michael Flowers, Aaron Shore and Joel Gehring for the open ISD seats. The board also passed a resolution expressing support for the ISD general fund budget.

Several routine personnel actions were approved. The board approved hiring Marina Ryan for an unspecified position beginning the 2025–26 school year and approved Corinne Byrd for an ELA teaching position at Williamston Middle School for 2025–26 after multiple interview rounds and positive reference checks. The board appointed Deb (last name not specified in the record) to serve as secretary for the meeting.

Other consent and administrative items approved included minutes from the May 5 regular meeting, approval of Discovery and Explorer elementary handbooks for 2025–26, and multiple board policy revisions and rewrites related to membership, student records (FERPA), financial procedures and purchasing.

Votes at a glance - Hire: Marina Ryan — motion made and approved by voice vote; outcome: approved. - Hire: Corinne Byrd — motion made and approved by voice vote; outcome: approved. - Appointment: Deb as meeting secretary — approved by voice. - Construction material testing (SME) — motion: contract to SME to conduct construction material testing for the softball field complex and tennis courts, cost not to exceed $42,500, funding from 2024 bond; mover/second recorded; roll call recorded as all yes; outcome: approved. - Softball complex contractors — motion: contract with recommended vendors as detailed by Christman Company, cost not to exceed $1,782,134, funding from 2024 bond; outcome: approved. - High school furniture purchases — KI: up to $397,414.47 (including freight/assembly); Wiser: up to $288,343.24 plus 20% for freight/assembly/installation; outcome: approved. - ISD election representatives and first-ballot instructions — Sarah Bellinger (representative), Heather Gorslein (alternate); directed to vote for Michael Flowers, Aaron Shore and Joel Gehring; outcome: approved. - ISD general fund budget — board resolution expressing support; outcome: approved. - Discovery Elementary and Explorer handbooks 2025–26 — approved. - Board policy revisions and rewrites (multiple finance and student-record policies) — approved.

The board took public and staff presentations earlier in the meeting (celebrations, superintendent report and updates on bond projects) before moving to these action items. Several board members noted the long-awaited nature of the softball project and asked questions about placement, bathrooms and supervision; the board confirmed outside restrooms at the softball site will not be open for general student use during the school day.

The board adjourned after routine board reports and scheduling notes.