Caldwell County Board approves 2025–26 school improvement plans, budget amendments and routine personnel items
Summary
The Caldwell County Board of Education approved the district's 2025'26 school improvement plans and three budget amendments (including $462,926 for state public school fund priorities and a $100,000 capital outlay correction) and signed off on routine personnel actions after a recognition ceremony and Veterans Day remarks.
The Caldwell County Board of Education approved the district's 2025'26 school improvement plans, three budget amendments and routine personnel items during its meeting at the Education Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
Katrina McKellen, the district's Education Program Services assistant superintendent, presented the 2025'26 school improvement plans required under state regulation (Article 8B) and "respectfully request[ed] approval" from the board. A motion to approve the plans was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote.
David Johnson, the district's finance assistant superintendent and chief financial officer, described three budget amendments the board considered. The first amendment adjusts the State Public School Fund by approximately $462,926 to cover principal bonuses, literacy intervention and school connectivity. The second amendment appropriates federal grant funds for Title I, Title II (teacher quality) and Title III (language acquisition) allocations. The third moves $100,000 into the capital outlay fund to correct an expense tied to a recent greenhouse purchase. "If these three amendments are approved tonight, it'll bring the total budget for Caldwell County Schools to $143,878,059.47," Johnson said. The board voted to approve all three amendments.
Dr. Thomas Howell, assistant superintendent for human resources, presented customary personnel informational items and one contract hire listed as temporary, along with non-contractual employment requests and the substitute roster. Board members moved, seconded and approved the personnel contract items and the substitute list.
The meeting opened with recognitions and a short ceremony: board member Theresa Branch led an invocation that included a Veterans Day recognition, and the board honored teachers and students, including Janet Brooks of Granite Falls Middle School for an outstanding science teaching award and student art showcased from Collegeville and Kings Creek schools. The board also recognized West Caldwell High School's NJROTC for recent national color guard championships.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of meeting agenda: motion passed by voice vote (no roll-call tally recorded in transcript). - Approval of minutes (Oct. 13, 2025): motion passed by voice vote (no roll-call tally recorded in transcript). - Approval of 2025'26 school improvement plans: motion passed by voice vote. - Approval of budget amendments (State Public School Fund ~ $462,926; Federal grant fund appropriations; Capital outlay transfer $100,000): motion passed by voice vote. - Approval of human resources contract items and substitute list: motion passed by voice vote.
The board adjourned after routine business concluded. The meeting included several recognitions and brief announcements, and no public comments were recorded at the start of the session.
