Board hears District C and interventionist results; approves budget amendment, construction contingency, trip and personnel actions

The Lenoir County Board of Education on Oct. 6 received presentations on two student-focused initiatives and approved several routine business items: a financial summary and budget amendment, construction-related contract actions, an out-of-state middle school field trip and personnel changes.

Doctor Anne Jones described District C, a summer workforce-development program in which 28 students from four Lenoir County high schools worked with three local business partners — Neuse Regional Library, Pink Hill Chiropractic and the Kinston Community Council for the Arts — to develop solutions to real business problems. Jones said business partners found the student solutions useful and that the program produced at least two internships tied to prior District C cycles. “This summer, 28 students engaged in a unique program called District C… the businesses love our kids so much that they are creating internships and opportunities for our students based on these summer activities,” Jones told the board.

District staff also presented the interventionist program, which they described as a five-level framework (data analysis; identify needs; design interventions; implement in small groups or inclusion settings; and measure impact). Presenters said the district began with 95 interventionists in 2022–23, fell to 90 in 2023–24, 47 in 2024–25, and currently has 36 with an expectation to reach roughly 40. Staff showed grade-by-grade reading and math comparisons — using DIBELS in early grades and EVOS projections in upper grades — and said groups served by interventionists frequently met or exceeded national or state projections. “If anybody has any doubts about whether these 1 to 1 student and 1 to 6, 1 to 3 interventions actually work during the school day — they do, and the proof is in the data,” a presenter said.

On the business agenda, the board received the September 2025 financial report and approved Budget Amendment #1 to revise the working budget to reflect fiscal-year changes. The board also considered several facilities items: staff recommended awarding a roofing solicitation (three vendors responded) for a roof portion not previously replaced during ESSER renovations; the award was presented as contingent on receiving state educational lottery repair and renovation funds.

Separately, the board approved a request to use a $175,000 lump-sum price escalation contingency established in contract amendment #1 to cover a $113,183.81 request from contractor trade partners (Steel and Pipe Corporation and Allegiance Industries) for the EB Frank Middle School project; presenters said the request leaves a remaining contingency balance. The board approved the contingency request by motion.

Other approvals included selection of four voting delegates for the upcoming North Carolina School Boards Association annual conference, declaration of maintenance items as surplus with proceeds to return to the maintenance department, and authorization for Whittington Middle School’s eighth-grade trip to Williamsburg, Virginia (March 19–21) with travel by charter bus from district-approved carriers and transportation inspection. The board moved into closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11 for personnel matters; upon returning, the personnel report was approved, with one board member recusing because an immediate family member was on the recommendation list. The board also announced Jennifer Sutton as the district’s new Human Resources Coordinator.

Where motions were recorded, the transcript shows movers and seconders in several cases and votes taken by show of hands; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally for every vote. Several approvals were identified as contingent on external funding or inspections as noted above.

The board will consider school improvement plans as action items at the November meeting to meet the state requirement for board approval prior to NCSTAR submission in December.

What the board approved: Budget Amendment #1 (approved); use of $113,183.81 from a contract escalation contingency for EB Frank Middle School (approved); designation of surplus maintenance items (approved); Whittington Middle School out-of-state field trip (approved); personnel report including appointment of Jennifer Sutton (approved).