Wilson County Board of Education approves insurance, contracts and policy updates; multiple unanimous votes

The Wilson County Board of Education on May 20 approved a package of contracts, a workers' compensation renewal and two revised policies and recorded several other procedural votes.

The board unanimously approved renewal of workers' compensation coverage with AmTrust Financial and a slate of contracts for facilities and nutrition services, and it approved a large set of instructional services contracts intended to support special education, staffing and curriculum needs. The board also adopted revised policies governing the use of unmanned aircraft and student searches. A separate motion to amend how quickly administration must respond to public input passed 4–3, but a later motion led the board to leave the district's existing response process unchanged.

Why it matters: The votes lock in spending and policy changes that affect district operations, staffing and student services for the coming year, including a workers' compensation premium, facility assessments and planned cafeteria equipment and food-service offerings.

Key outcomes

- Workers' compensation insurance: The board approved a renewal with AmTrust Financial for the 2025–26 year. The district presented the renewal cost as $177,789; the motion carried unanimously. The administration said the premium reflects the district's experience and post-COVID return to campus activity.

- Administrative services contracts: The board approved three contracts as a slate: a facility condition assessment addendum with Dewberry Engineers Inc. for $108,128 (local funds); dining-room seating and related dining-room equipment with Universal Equipment Company for $323,477.69 (to be paid from the Nutrition Services fund); and a contract with Smart Mouth Pizza to provide made-on-site personal pizzas for several high schools for $133,935.50 (Nutrition Services fund). The board noted the nutrition fund is self-supporting through meal revenues and federal reimbursements.

- Instructional services and staffing contracts: The board approved a package of instructional and contracted personnel agreements, covering a range of vendors and services (examples cited in the meeting included 95% Group for a phonics core program, AV Staffing Solutions, Kinetic Pediatric Therapy, Soliant Health LLC and others). The motions increased several previously reported not-to-exceed amounts to meet anticipated needs for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years.

- Policies adopted: The board approved on second reading revised policy on the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) and on second reading a revised student-searches policy with a minor grammatical correction.

- Agenda and minutes: The board unanimously approved an amendment to the agenda (moving item 11 to a revised June 25 date and item 12 to adjournment) and unanimously approved minutes from the April 14, 2025 regular board meeting.

Votes and margins

- Agenda amendment to revise item dates: moved by Ms. Boyette, seconded by Mr. Breen; motion carries unanimously (recorded as unanimous in the transcript).

- Approval of April 14, 2025 minutes: moved by Dr. Fitch, seconded by Mrs. Powell; unanimous.

- Approval of AmTrust renewal (workers' compensation): moved by Mrs. Powell, seconded by Mrs. Boyette; unanimous. Amount reported: $177,789.

- Administrative services contracts (Dewberry, Universal Equipment, Smart Mouth Pizza): moved by Mr. Breen, seconded by Mr. Batts; unanimous. Amounts: Dewberry $108,128; Universal Equipment $323,477.69; Smart Mouth Pizza $133,935.50. Administration said the pizza contract would be spread over time and estimated roughly 80,000 pizzas over the agreement period.

- Instructional services contracts (package of vendors for EC contracted personnel, licensing and services): moved by Mrs. Boyette, seconded by Dr. Fitch; unanimous. The list included increases to previously submitted not-to-exceed amounts for multiple vendors; specifics are in the minutes and contract reports provided to the board.

- Revised policy: Use of unmanned aircraft (second reading) — moved by Mrs. Boyette, seconded by Ms. Powell; unanimous.

- Revised policy: Student searches (second reading with a grammatical correction) — moved by Mrs. Boyette, seconded by Ms. Powell; unanimous.

- Motion to amend the agenda to discuss a timeframe for administration responses to public input: moved by Mr. Batts, seconded by Mr. Breen; motion passed 4–3. The transcript records yes votes from Mr. Batts, Mr. Green, the chair and Mr. Kyle and no votes from Ms. Powell, Ms. Boyette and Dr. Fitch.

- Subsequent motion to leave the district's existing public-input response practice in place and to direct administration to respond to tonight's speakers: moved by Dr. Fitch, seconded by Mrs. Powell; carried with the majority in favor (the transcript records six in favor and one opposed).

What the board said

Board members and administrators framed many of the contract votes as routine operational business that funds assessments, dining room upgrades and supports to increase student participation in school meals. In describing the pizza contract, a board member said the program is expected to increase cafeteria participation and therefore revenue to the Nutrition Services fund. The administration noted the AmTrust premium is driven by recent claims experience and post-pandemic occupancy of facilities.

Next steps

Approved contracts will move into procurement and implementation per the district's normal purchasing and contracting processes. The board directed administration to respond to public commenters who spoke at the meeting and will discuss confidential personnel and student matters in closed session following the public meeting.

Ending: The board recessed into closed session after voting to consider confidential personnel and student matters as permitted by cited North Carolina statutes and federal student-privacy law.