Lincoln County board approves teacher recruitment program, stadium scoreboard and funding memorandum; adds real estate contract extension to consent agenda

The Lincoln County Schools Board of Education approved three action items and a consent agenda addition during its meeting. The board voted to approve the LCS "Teach Return to Inspire" recruitment program, authorize purchase of a new scoreboard for West Lincoln High School, and adopt a memorandum of agreement (MOA) outlining the county school funding model. The board also convened a closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143‑318.11 and returned to open session with no action taken; the board then added a real estate contract extension (item 15‑10) to the consent agenda.

Board members made and seconded each motion on the record and passed each item by voice vote. The motion to approve the LCS Teach Return to Inspire program was made by Mr. Jenkins and seconded by Board Member Krista Hefner; the motion carried. The purchase of a new football scoreboard for West Lincoln High School was moved by Mr. Jarrett and seconded by Board Member Hefner; the motion carried. The memorandum of agreement describing the county’s school funding model was moved by Board Member Hefner and seconded by Board Member Brandy Wyatt; the motion carried. The board approved the consent agenda, including the recently added real estate contract extension, after a motion by Board Member Erin Long and a second by Mr. Jenkins.

The Teach Return to Inspire program was presented by district staff (Miss Carpenter, Miss Fry and Miss McGraw) as a locally focused effort to encourage Lincoln County graduates to enter and return to the teaching profession. Board discussion on the item was brief on the public record before the motion and voice vote to approve the program. The scoreboard item covered authorization to purchase a new scoreboard for West Lincoln High School’s football stadium; board members approved the purchase by voice vote after a motion and second were recorded.

Before the action votes, the board voted to enter a closed session citing North Carolina General Statute 143‑318.11(a)(1) for matters confidential under the law (student and employee matters) and (a)(3) for matters protected by attorney–client privilege. The board recessed to closed session and later reconvened in open session; the chair announced no action was taken in closed session. Following the return to open session, the board added the real estate contract extension (agenda item 15‑10) to the consent agenda and subsequently approved the full consent agenda with that addition. The consent agenda, as approved, included approval of minutes, personnel recommendations, extended field trips, several policies (which had been posted for 25 days), facility work (West Lincoln High School old gym roof replacement), a vehicle purchase (maintenance van), student transfer availability for 2025–26, the summer program plan for 2024–25, and the real estate contract extension.

The board recorded motions and seconders for each item on the public record, and each vote was taken by voice with the chair announcing motions carried when the vote concluded. The meeting concluded with reminders about upcoming board dates and an adjournment vote.

Votes (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - LCS Teach Return to Inspire program — motion by Mr. Jenkins; second by Krista Hefner; outcome: approved (voice vote). - West Lincoln High School football scoreboard purchase — motion by Mr. Jarrett; second by Krista Hefner; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Memorandum of Agreement (school funding model) — motion by Krista Hefner; second by Brandy Wyatt; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to go into closed session under N.C. Gen. Stat. 143‑318.11(a)(1) and (a)(3) — motion by Krista Hefner; second by Ms. Sloan; outcome: approved (board entered closed session; no action taken upon return). - Consent agenda (including added real estate contract extension, item 15‑10) — motion by Erin Long; second by Mr. Jenkins; outcome: approved (voice vote).

The board set its next work session for April 1 and its monthly board meeting for April 8, and adjourned following a recorded motion and voice vote.