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Richmond County Schools board approves strategic plan, budget amendments and child‑nutrition contracts
Summary
The board approved the district’s 2026–2031 strategic plan, several budget amendments and the child nutrition procurement awards for 2026–27, including vendor recommendations (Cisco Raleigh, Kennedy Produce, Pepsi, Hershey); some dollar amounts read aloud in the meeting were garbled in the transcript and are noted as reported.
At its June 9 meeting the Richmond County Board of Education approved the district’s five‑year strategic plan for 2026–2031, several budget amendments and the recommended child‑nutrition vendor awards for the 2026–27 school year.
Dr. Kate Smith presented a draft strategic plan and accompanying draft departmental action steps; after 30‑day review the board moved and approved the plan. Finance staff then presented budget amendments 18–22; the record includes an increase in federal funds of $164,910 (amendment 20) and an increase in capital outlay tied to lease buses and county contributions (amendment 21 referenced $150,000 and $132,917 in the discussion). Some amounts read aloud earlier in the meeting were unclear in the transcript and are noted as such in reporting.
The child nutrition director presented procurement results for food, produce, beverage, milk, bread, pest control and other lots. Staff said Gordon Foods was identified as the preliminary lowest bidder on one grocery lot but was disqualified for not submitting all line items; Cisco Raleigh was recommended in its place and also won a separate supplies lot. Kennedy Produce (Raleigh) was recommended as the lowest bidder for fresh produce; Pepsi was recommended for most beverage lots while Cisco will supply a specific juice line where it was cheaper; milk pricing was rolled over with the incumbent at the same rate; Flowers/Bimbo was listed as the bread vendor; and Hershey was recommended for ice cream based on product availability and price. The board discussed single‑bid situations and asked staff to follow up with vendors about reasons for not bidding; staff agreed to follow up and provide responses.
All procurement recommendations, the strategic plan and the presented budget amendments were approved by voice vote during the meeting. Board members asked staff to track vendor outreach and the reasons some vendors did not submit bids, and to circulate that follow‑up information to board members.
Policies concluding their 30‑day review were adopted by the board and staff confirmed the schedule for additional policy reviews and upcoming meetings (including a June 30 organizational meeting and a July 29 work session focused on the budget).
