Board approves school‑justice MOU, special‑ed agreement and asks staff to draft procurement‑card policy

At its Feb. 9 meeting the Columbus County Board of Education reviewed a series of student‑support and operational items, approved several interagency agreements and asked staff to return with a formal policy for procurement cards.

The board approved a school justice partnership memorandum of understanding that the superintendent described as a required legal document to continue information‑sharing and coordination with juvenile justice and county law enforcement. Doctor Pickett told the board the MOU had been in place for about five years and said it would be reviewed, signed and forwarded with multiple signatures for compliance. The motion to approve carried on a voice vote.

The board also approved a local articulation agreement with Southeastern Community College allowing students dual credit for identified courses, and later approved a Memorandum of Agreement with Global Special Education Associates LLC to provide professional development for the district’s special education leadership team. The special‑education PD will begin with four half‑day sessions for the district leadership and include two curriculum staff members to enable push‑out to teachers in August; the superintendent said the district will collect data and report back on effectiveness.

Student support services presented midyear updates. School social worker Shira Mears described the district’s truancy‑court model, noting that of 70 students scheduled for an informational court session 23 attended and that those 23 “showed an 89% increase in their attendance” after the intervention; Mears said several families required transfers or had court cases opened. Juvenile Crime Prevention counselor Matt Edwards reported continued State Department of Public Safety funding for JCPC services through the 2026–27 school year and emphasized dropout‑prevention casework.

Behavior support lead Christian Grama outlined reductions in minor incidents, use of morning meetings and restorative practices, introduction of vape detectors in high schools, and the district’s "Gentlemen of Distinction" program for middle‑school males. Staff also discussed 'yonder pouches' (phone pouches) and noted early, mixed results and technology/implementation differences across schools.

On auxiliary and finance items, staff clarified a Davie Resources permitting invoice as $2,750 and presented several other vendor invoices related to clean water permitting and a Williams Township furniture purchase. Finance Director Daniel Nolan delivered a budget update showing month‑7 percentages: state current expense reported at 61.54% (~$30,000,000), local funds at 61.77% (~$4,100,000) and federal funds at 42.98% (~$2,800,000); Nolan said cash flow remains stable and that the district awaits LGC approval of the audit report.

Nolan proposed a Truist procurement/commercial card and fraud‑detection service to reduce transactional friction for schools (field‑trip meals, small purchases and concession restocking), noting controls such as online limits, immediate deactivation and monthly reconciliation. After discussion about safeguards and examples from other districts, the board voted to allow the finance department to develop a policy and procedures and return with a recommendation.

The meeting closed its public session and moved into closed session under the North Carolina open‑meetings statutory citation noted on the record.