Mediator declares impasse in Alamance County budget mediation as ABSS presses funding requests

Mediator Greg McGuire said the parties were at an impasse over current (operating) expenditures after a day of statutorily required mediation between Alamance County commissioners and ABSS, the local school system, and left discussions about capital projects open for further negotiation.

McGuire, who introduced himself as a former North Carolina Superior Court judge, told the group he was neutral and that the mediation was required by state law. “This is a mandatory process that is required by North Carolina statute general statute 1 15 c dash 4 31,” he said, explaining he would shuttle between separate breakout rooms and attempt to broker compromises. “I am neutral. I have no stake in either side of this dispute,” McGuire added.

ABSS officials framed their requests around recent academic gains and remaining resource gaps. “We are here in the spirit of partnership to find a compromise on funding our schools,” Dr. Fleming said, noting the district’s recent proficiency increases and arguing that staffing and school facilities lag behind regional peers. Dr. Fleming said ABSS had launched a finance portal to increase transparency.

Tony Messer, an ABSS representative, summarized the district’s operating ask for the record (transcribed as the “2620 7 year”), listing needs that included curriculum and software purchases, rising utilities and contracted services, benefit-related costs tied to potential state pay raises, support for school resource officers and charter commitments, increases to certified and classified supplements, new academic-certified positions and supplemental pay for exceptional-student staff.

In a separate capital presentation, an ABSS speaker identified in the record as Mr. Hawk said the district could not address several capital items if the reduced allocation stood. He listed project estimates including Southern and Eastern Alamance High School tennis courts ($500,000 each), Graham High School’s athletic track ($500,000), crosswalk/way painting ($500,000), one activity bus (approximately $150,000), a teacher-laptop replacement line (about $2,000,000), multiple school security vestibules, and several asphalt repaving projects. Mr. Hawk said the district’s full capital outlay request was $7,010,000 but that the funding scenario being discussed would bring that figure to “4.8” (units not specified in the record).

Commissioners stressed stewardship of county funds in opening remarks. Commissioner Allen said the county remained committed to “responsible stewardship of public funds” and sought a fact- and law-based exchange.

The board voted to go into closed session for the mediation; the record shows the motion carried with an affirmative vote reported as five yes and zero no. After closed-session shuttling, parties returned to open session and McGuire reported his determination that the parties were at an impasse on the current-expenditure portion of the fiscal-year 26–27 budget. He left the mediation open with respect to capital expenditures and said the parties could continue negotiating beyond the meeting.

No settlement was announced. Following the mediator’s report the board moved and carried motions to adjourn the meeting.

What happens next: McGuire said any agreement reached would be committed at least to a simple written form and that he would not be reporting results to other state agencies; the record indicates the parties split the mediator fee and that McGuire could declare an impasse if he determined further progress was not possible. The transcript does not specify a follow-up meeting date or further procedural deadlines.