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Board approves $8M capital outlay request, including $2.8M county ask and $1M endowment request for technology
Summary
Trustees approved forwarding an $8 million capital outlay recommendation (including an estimated $2.8 million county appropriation and a possible $1 million endowment request for technology), and discussed technology device replacement, staff machines and sustainability measures for device use.
The New Hanover County Board of Education approved staff’s capital outlay recommendation to forward to county leaders, a request staff described as a little over $8 million that relies on two lottery funding pots and an estimated county appropriation.
Miss Sutton presented the finance/capital bond committee recommendation and said the total request — which includes traditional state lottery and repairs/renovations lottery pots — tallies just over $8,000,000. Staff noted the county appropriation line in the recommendation is an estimate developed with the county manager’s office and identified that the administration may also ask the endowment for a $1,000,000 contribution to technology needs. Sutton described the $2,800,000 county appropriation figure as an incremental request above operating appropriations and separate from the operating increase conversation.
Board members focused several questions on the technology line items, which staff described as funding for staff device replacements, Windows 11 compatibility needs (roughly $520,000 in the packet for staff machines) and iPad carts/secure storage for classroom sharing. Technology staff described planned moves away from a full 1:1 home‑device program at some elementary and middle schools in favor of shared, classroom‑based carts and improved charging/secure storage to reduce damage and sustain devices in the long run.
After discussion, the board voted to accept the capital outlay request and forward it for county consideration; the vote was recorded as 7-0 in favor. Trustees asked staff to continue to seek external grant funding where possible and to circulate the updated technology sustainability plan to trustees.
What happens next: the capital request will be incorporated into the district’s formal submission to the county manager and county commissioners; staff will circulate the updated technology sustainability plan and work with the superintendent’s office on any follow‑up requests to the endowment or other funders.
Vote at a glance: Motion to accept and move forward with the capital outlay budget request — moved and seconded; passed 7‑0 (board present per roll call: Elder Boer; Melissa Mason; Josie Barnhart; Pat Bradford; Judy Justice; Tim Merrick; David Perry).
