Swain County Board approves budget request, 2025–26 calendar and SRO MOU; authorizes continued Vannoy negotiations

The Swain County Board of Education approved the district’s annual county budget request and multiple budget amendments, adopted the 2025–26 school calendar and approved a memorandum of understanding for school resource officers at a recent meeting, while authorizing continued negotiations with Vannoy Construction as construction manager at risk pending final contract approval.

Board members voted to send the district’s county budget request to county commissioners as presented. District presenters asked the board to request sufficient funds to cover core operations, saying the maintenance and facilities operations request totals $1,863,345 to pay utilities and most maintenance salaries. The superintendent-level presenter told the board that the district historically receives less than the full amount requested and urged continued advocacy for full funding.

The district also said it is requesting $200,000 for specialized reading assistants to place two reading specialists at each elementary school and identified other capital needs, including a projected $350,000 estimate for unexpected playground repairs at Bridal…