Haywood County Schools board accepts $3.71 million in disaster-recovery funds, submits Clyde property for FEMA buyout and approves series of facility contracts

The Haywood County Schools Board of Education on Feb. 10 unanimously accepted $3,713,067 in Hurricane Helene disaster-recovery funds allocated by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and authorized staff to accept the funds and repay any state advances as federal or insurance reimbursements arrive.

The board also approved a motion to submit the district property at 3215 Broad Street in Clyde and associated buildings for consideration in the state-managed FEMA hazard mitigation buyout program; if selected, the program would pay market value for the property before the damaging event and the county would take the land after demolition.

Board members approved a slate of building-and-grounds and capital items, including a facilities assessment contract with Clark Nexsen for $262,900 to evaluate and prioritize repairs across district buildings; HVAC and equipment replacements at several schools (examples include a $49,950 cafeteria HVAC replacement at Canton Middle School and a $13,900 HVAC replacement at Waynesville Middle School); the purchase of six Byrd Bard units for $94,398; two mowers for $32,523.44; a 2020 Ford F-150 SuperCrew for $45,554; and a $73,870 roof repair at the former HCLC building on Virginia Avenue. The board also approved a contract amendment with SDR for removal of sand, silt and soil where needed as part of ongoing storm recovery work.

In business items, the board approved a contract to continue providing free student transcript access through Parchment at a district cost of $5,336, and approved the Heights Summer Youth Employment Program contract (a scaled program funded in part by a $50,000 innovation grant) to provide paid short-term work experience, soft-skills training and mentorship for participating students.

Personnel items were approved, including separations and hires recorded in the personnel report. The board voted to hold harmless January principal salary changes for the county supplement and approved monthly finance reports.

A proposed change to the districtpolicy governing participation in extracurricular activities (policy 36-20-R, the application for immediate athletic eligibility) was discussed in work session. Board members suspended consideration of most policy revisions for 30 days to solicit public input; a motion to suspend the rules and act on 36-20-R immediately failed for lack of a second, and the item was tabled for 30 days.

Votes at a glance

- Accept Hurricane Helene disaster-recovery funds ($3,713,067): motion moved by Jimmy Rogers; second by David Burnett; outcome: approved unanimously. (Transcript: motion moved and carried unanimously.)

- Submit 3215 Broad Street (Clyde) property for FEMA hazard mitigation buyout: motion moved by Kirkpatrick; second by Nesbitt; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Approve Clark Nexsen facility assessment ($262,900, capital funds): approved unanimously.

- Approve multiple building-and-grounds contracts and capital purchases (selected items): Canton Middle School HVAC ($49,950), Waynesville Middle…