School board approves edited letter backing governor's school bond and asks legislators to consider a capital‑referendum option

The Catawba County Board of Education on June 9 approved a revised draft letter to state legislative members expressing support for the governor’s Public School Bond Act of 2025 and asking legislators to consider including a capital referendum of their own design in the final house or senate budget if they do not adopt the governor’s plan.

Dr. Matt Stover presented the draft and invited edits. During discussion a board member proposed changing the letter’s closing language to "request your support for the Public School Bond Act of 2025 or include a capital referendum of your own design in the final house or senate budget," a change the board asked Stover to incorporate before the letter is sent.

Stover told the board he used an AI drafting tool in preparing a professional version of the text, saying, "I put a lot of thoughts into chat g p t, and then you got that professional letter in front of you." He offered to make the agreed edits and circulate a revised version for signature and said he could have an updated version ready before members leave tonight.

Board members voiced support for asking legislators to consider additional grant opportunities and for language that would preserve a path to a public capital referendum if the governor’s exact bond proposal is not adopted by the General Assembly. The board voted to approve the letter with the discussed wording changes; Dr. Stover will make the edits and distribute the final letter to legislators this week.

What’s next: The superintendent will circulate the edited letter for signatures and send it to local legislators this week, per the board’s motion.