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Board approves budget amendment after debate over security spending; greenlights three-year lawn contract and waives second reading on policy updates
Summary
After questions from board members about unbudgeted security and facility purchases, the Caswell County Board of Education approved Budget Amendment No. 5 by a 5–1 vote, unanimously approved a three-year lawn services contract with Custom Cuts for $160,800, and approved placing 26 updated policies on first reading while waiving the second reading;
The Caswell County Board of Education voted on several agenda items after discussion about district spending authority and procurement.
Budget Amendment No. 5 Board members debated Budget Amendment No. 5, described by staff as a realignment of Capital Outlay funds that does not draw from fund balance. Board members raised concerns that security camera, power replacement and other safety-related purchases had proceeded before a line-item budget amendment was presented to the board. A staff presenter said some repairs and upgrades were already in motion before the current administration and that invoices arrived in a later fiscal year; the presenter said some items—including gym assessment invoices—were board-approved in a prior fiscal year but billed in the current one.
One board member said invoices for items not budgeted should not have been paid without prior board approval and asked staff to ensure future compliance with board policy. After discussion, the board voted 5–1 to approve Budget Amendment No. 5.
Lawn-services contract The board considered a three-year contract amendment with Custom Cuts to provide lawn services at a fixed rate. Staff said the three-year agreement offers price stability and estimated savings of about $15,000 over the term because graduation mulch and related services would be included in years two and three at no additional labor cost. The three-year total discussed was $160,800; staff said that equates to roughly $53,600 per year. The board voted unanimously to approve the three-year contract.
Policy updates District staff presented 26 updated board policies aligned to the North Carolina School Boards Association model changes. The cover sheet listed the policies and the changes showed legal-reference updates in red. The board motioned to place the policies on the table for first reading and to waive the second reading; the motion carried.
Other business and votes The consent agenda was approved earlier in the meeting after one item (the lawn contract) was pulled for discussion. The board also approved the minutes and the meeting agenda during the opening procedural items. The board voted to enter closed session for personnel and privileged/confidential attorney matters under North Carolina law.
Recorded outcomes in the meeting transcript showed the following results: Budget Amendment No. 5 passed 5–1; the lawn contract passed unanimously; Carnegie Learning MOU (covered in a separate item) was approved; the motion to place updated policies on first reading and to waive the second reading carried.
