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 School HVAC ($13,900), six Byrd Bard units ($94,398), 2020 Ford F-150 ($45,554), two mowers ($32,523.44), roof at old HCLC building ($73,870), concrete repairs at Pisgah High ($9,000), various smaller HVAC and pump replacements; outcome: each motion approved unanimously.

- Approve SDR contract amendment for additional soil/silt removal (rate noted at $4.50 per cubic yard): approved unanimously; work and costs have been filed with FEMA as part of storm-recovery reimbursement.

- Approve Parchment transcript contract (district payment $5,336 to maintain free student transcript requests): approved unanimously.

- Approve Heights Summer Youth Employment Program contract (funded in part by $50,000 innovation grant): approved unanimously.

- Approve Navy JROTC memorandum of agreement addendum (added notification and title IX coordinator fields): approved unanimously.

- Personnel report approvals (listed in personnel packet): approved unanimously.

What the board said and next steps

Superintendent designees and staff were authorized to sign necessary documents to submit the Clyde property for FEMA consideration and to accept and manage the disaster-recovery dollars via the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The district intends to return state funds if federal or insurance reimbursements later cover the same costs; the stated goal is to make the district financially whole for storm-related repairs.

Board members and staff said the building-and-grounds approvals are part of prioritized post-storm recovery and ongoing maintenance; the Clark Nexsen assessment will provide a formal prioritization that staff said will inform future capital planning.

Speakers

- S. Francis, Chair/Chairman (identified in meeting as Chairman Francis) - Jimmy Rogers, Board member (mover on several motions) - David Burnett, Board member (seconded at least one motion) - Kirkpatrick (board member who moved the FEMA property submission) - Nesbitt (board member who seconded multiple motions) - Dr. Haynes (presenter of several reports and personnel items) - Brooke King (central office staff; meeting operations and recognitions) - Steven Sharp (presenter; recognized bus drivers and introduced items)

Authorities

- Policy 43-26 (random student drug testing), referenced in the drug-testing report presented to the board and used as the governing policy for the testing program. - Policy 52-30 (participation in research projects), cited when the board was notified a Hazelwood Elementary teacher research project was approved by the superintendent. - Session Law 2024-53 (Senate Bill 743), referenced as the authorizing source for disaster-recovery funding allocated to schools by the state. - FEMA hazard mitigation buyout program (state-administered program implementing federal FEMA mitigation buyouts), referenced in the motion to submit the Clyde property.

actions:[{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Accept allocation of Hurricane Helene disaster-recovery funds in the amount of $3,713,067 from NCDPI and authorize district staff to accept and manage the funds","mover":"Jimmy Rogers","second":"David Burnett","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Funds will be used for facility repairs related to Tropical Storm Helene; district intends to reimburse state if federal/insurance funds arrive."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"project_slug":"3215-broad-st-clyde-fema-buyout"},"motion":"Submit property located at 3215 Broad Street, Clyde, and associated buildings for consideration for the state-managed FEMA hazard mitigation buyout program and authorize superintendent or designee to execute legal forms","mover":"Kirkpatrick","second":"Nesbitt","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"If accepted, state/FEMA would pay market value prior to the storm and property would be turned over to the county after demolition."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve contract with Clark Nexsen for district facility assessment, amount $262,900, using capital funds","mover":"Kirkpatrick","second":"unspecified","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Assessment to prioritize repairs, energy savings and renovation feasibility."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve multiple building and grounds contract actions (selected): Canton Middle HVAC replacement $49,950; Waynesville Middle HVAC replacement $13,900; purchase six Byrd Bard units $94,398; Ford F-150 (2020) $45,554; two mowers $32,523.44; roof repair at old HCLC $73,870; concrete repairs at Pisgah High $9,000; SDR contract amendment for soil/silt removal (rate $4.50/yd3)","mover":"various","second":"various","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Items paid from capital funds; storm-recovery items filed with FEMA."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve Parchment contract and district payment of $5,336 to keep student transcript requests free for juniors and seniors","mover":"Nesbitt","second":"Marsh (record unclear)","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Parchment acquired Need My Transcript; district will pay to maintain free transcript service for students."},{"kind":"contract_award","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve Heights Summer Youth Employment Program contract (scaled program funded by $50,000 innovation grant)","mover":"Shelton","second":"Morris","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Five weeks of paid work-based training, resume/interview coaching and employer placements planned."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve Navy JROTC memorandum of agreement addendum adding notification requirement and title IX coordinator fields","mover":"Jimmy Rogers","second":"Nesbitt","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Addendum requires notification to Navy within one business day of disciplinary or administrative actions levied on JROTC staff."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Table all policy revisions (except 36-20-R) for 30 days for public input; 36-20-R discussion deferred after failed motion to suspend rules","mover":"Chair (procedural)","second":"none","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"tabled","notes":"Motion to suspend rules and act on 36-20-R failed for lack of a second; board will solicit public input for 30 days."},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve personnel report (separations, hires, status changes) as presented","mover":"unspecified","second":"Nesbitt","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Personnel packet included 11 separations, 15 employments, 66 status changes, and other items as listed in personnel report."}],"discussion_decision":{"discussion_points":["Use of state disaster-recovery funds to cover storm-related facility repairs while awaiting federal/insurance reimbursements","Submitting repeatedly flooded property for FEMA hazard mitigation buyout","Prioritizing facility needs via a comprehensive assessment (Clark Nexsen)","Continuing free student transcript access via Parchment at district expense","Suspending policy changes to solicit public input"],"directions":["Superintendent or designee authorized to execute required legal forms for FEMA buyout submission and accept disaster-recovery funds","Staff to proceed with Clark Nexsen assessment and building-and-grounds repairs using approved capital funds","Finance staff to account for disaster funds and reimbursements as FEMA/insurance funds are received"],"decisions":["Approve disaster-recovery funds acceptance ($3,713,067)","Submit property at 3215 Broad St for hazard mitigation buyout","Approve listed capital contracts and personnel report","Table policy revisions for 30 days"]},"clarifying_details":[{"category":"disaster_recovery_funds","detail":"Amount allocated to district by NCDPI for Hurricane Helene damage","value":"3713067","units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Chairman Francis"},{"category":"facility_assessment","detail":"Clark Nexsen contract amount and purpose","value":"262900","units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Building and Grounds Chair"},{"category":"transcript_contract","detail":"District will pay $5,336 so juniors/seniors continue to request transcripts at no cost via Parchment","value":"5336","units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Dr. Haynes"}],"proper_names":[{"name":"Haywood County Schools","type":"agency"},{"name":"North Carolina Department of Public Instruction","type":"agency"},{"name":"Parchment","type":"business"},{"name":"Clark Nexsen","type":"business"},{"name":"FEMA","type":"agency"}],"community_relevance":{"geographies":["Clyde","Haywood County"],"funding_sources":["State disaster-recovery funds (Session Law 2024-53, SB 743)","FEMA mitigation funds","district capital funds"],"impact_groups":["students","school staff","taxpayers"]},"meeting_context":{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":12,