Martin County Schools asks commissioners to fund $6.54 million of $7.25 million 2021–22 budget

Martin County Schools Superintendent Dr. David Fonseca presented the district’s proposed $7,252,980 budget for the 2021–22 school year and asked the Martin County Board of Commissioners to fund $6,544,045 of that total.

"On behalf of the close to 2,800 students, parents and guardians, as well as the over 500 teachers and staff ... I have the honor and privilege of presenting for your consideration the budget for the 2021–2022 school year," Fonseca said, opening the presentation.

The request includes $805,451 from the county to support a $1,357,731 capital outlay program that lists major projects such as roof replacements at South Creek High School and Williamston Primary and districtwide instructional-technology replacements. The presentation also outlined the new Martin County Schools Innovation Campus, a fall 2021 CTE and K–12 STEAM facility intended to host maker spaces, coding, robotics and after-hours community use under facilities-use agreements.

Fonseca and Chief Finance Officer Karen Rogerson detailed cost pressures driving the request: projected retirement rate increases (22.80% from 21.68%), higher health-insurance premiums (projected $6,580, up from $6,326), and a proposed 3% across-the-board salary increase, plus a $300 local supplement for certified staff to help retain teachers. The budget includes a $425,000 local supplement for Exceptional Children services to meet federal IDEA maintenance-of-effort requirements.

The presentation highlighted the fiscal impact of students who attend charter or other non‑district options. The budget included a $910,000 estimate for local charter payments and showed regional ADM (average daily membership) calculations estimating about $8.75 million in displaced ADM dollars when counting nearby charter and homeschool enrollments.

During questions, Rogerson said the district had received "a little over a million dollars" in ESSER I funds and described ESSER II and ESSER III figures as projected allotments rather than guaranteed amounts. Chairman Ronnie Smith and other commissioners discussed differences between ARP funds that can flow directly to local governments and federal school relief that currently passes through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI).

Commissioner Joe Ayers raised concerns about possible improper distribution of school meal deliveries, saying he had received complaints and "felt the food was going to people it was not intended for." Fonseca said the district has begun conversations about auditing food services and that some departments were being reviewed to ensure stewardship of resources; he noted the district had already taken steps since his arrival in November to consolidate positions and review expenditures.

Fonseca invited the commissioners to tour the Innovation Campus on May 20, 2021, at 11:30 a.m. and Chairman Smith suggested a memorandum of agreement with Martin Community College to expand credentialing opportunities for students.

The boards completed routine agenda approvals and adjourned their respective meetings. School Board Vice Chair Renee Purvis moved to adjourn the school board; School Board Member Van Heath seconded and the motion passed unanimously. County Commissioner Dempsey Bond Jr. moved to adjourn the county board at 8:36 p.m.; Commissioner Joe Ayers seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: commissioners will consider the funding request during county budget deliberations and district staff said they will provide additional figures on COVID-related state funding and follow up on meal-delivery audits.