Caldwell County Schools board approves budget amendments, personnel actions and releases policy revisions for public comment
Summary
At its meeting, the Caldwell County Schools board approved two budget amendments totaling $1,098,110 that administrators said will fund teacher bonuses and a federal grant allocation; the board also approved routine personnel contracts and a substitute list, authorized several policy revisions for public comment, and entered closed session to discuss confidential personnel matters.
Caldwell County Schools board members approved two budget amendments, several personnel items and the release of recommended policy revisions for public comment at a regular meeting where they also welcomed new superintendent Dr. Thomas Howe.
Chief Financial Officer David Johnson presented Budget Amendment No. 5, a $908,776 allocation from the State Public School Fund intended largely for elementary reading and math bonuses and a special exceptional children (EC) reserve, and Budget Amendment No. 6, a $189,334 allocation to the Federal Grant Fund (PRC105). Johnson said the two amendments would bring the district’s total budget to $144,976,168.60 if approved. Vice Chair Chris Pankhurst moved to approve both amendments; the motion was seconded and members voted unanimously to pass it.
Superintendent Thomas Howe offered holiday remarks and described district outreach through the Angel Tree program. "We have helped approximately 210 students this school year," Howe said. He also reminded the board of end-of-semester testing windows (CASA Academy Dec. 12–18; traditional schools Dec. 15–19) and noted retesting plans for high schools.
Howe presented human resources items and requested approval of customary personnel contracts and a substitute teacher list. A motion to approve the personnel contracts carried; the substitute list was approved separately. Board members asked about the district’s official Average Daily Membership (ADM) figure for allotments; the transcript includes garbled ADM figures and no clear official ADM number was recorded in the meeting text.
The superintendent asked the board to release several board policy revisions, which the meeting transcript listed as Policy 33-20, 36-20 and 13-10/4,002 (pending attorney review); Policy 21-27 (on board member use of technology) was listed on the table but not recommended for revision at this time. The board voted to release the recommended revisions for a period of public comment.
Before adjourning, the board voted to enter a closed session to discuss confidential personnel matters and to consult with the board attorney, citing state law. The motion to enter closed session passed, and the board then moved to adjourn so members could attend a scheduled reception.
Votes at a glance - Approve agenda: motion passed (unanimous). - Approve minutes (items 4a–4c): motion passed (unanimous). - Approve Budget Amendments No. 5 ($908,776) and No. 6 ($189,334): motion passed (unanimous). - Approve HR contracts and personnel informational items: motion passed (unanimous). - Approve substitute list: motion passed (unanimous). - Release recommended policy revisions for public comment: motion passed (unanimous). - Enter closed session for personnel matters under state statute: motion passed (unanimous).
The board did not record roll-call vote tallies or name-by-name votes in the public transcript excerpt; all motions were announced as passed following standard aye/no prompts. The meeting closed with holiday greetings and an adjournment to the scheduled reception.
