The Moore County Board of Education voted 6–1 to endorse building a smaller replacement Carthage Elementary (about 400–450 students) on the existing site funded by county commissioners rather than a general‑obligation bond, and unanimously halted a planned $3.3 million lottery‑fund request for an IT building while staff evaluates a 3.5‑acre New Century parcel.
The board voted 5–2 to delay placing a proposed new high school on the 2026 bond and directed staff to continue planning with the intention of including it in a 2028 general‑obligation bond; members debated urgency because Union Pines and Pinecrest are over capacity.
The board authorized a targeted salary-scale adjustment for transportation mechanics and reclassified the transportation technician supervisor to level 72 (range roughly $49,545–$66,788), funded by state O-56 transportation funds, to address persistent technician turnover and reduce expensive contracting-out.
District finance staff presented FY26–27 budget foundations showing state, local and charter funding mixes, projected fixed-cost increases and scenarios that leave a projected shortage of roughly $428,000 (2% state raise scenario) to $768,000 (4% scenario), with fund-balance implications.
The Moore County Schools board approved a revised public superintendent search survey Feb. 9, adopting a 10-year vision question, adding 'demonstrated mastery' to candidate criteria and editing several items after extended board discussion and public comment.
The board authorized $663,100 from restricted Fund 8 to complete Union Pines High School's synthetic turf installation (FieldTurf), with boosters pledging $90,000 for the upgraded 'cool play' infill; separately, the board endorsed requesting lottery funds for a new IT/PAR building on the Bass Carthage parcel, prompting debate over community opposition and site suitability.
The Moore County Schools board voted to contract SFLA to produce designs, cost estimates and renderings for a potential fourth high school; the $8.8 million figure is contingent on passage of a November 2026 bond referendum and includes conflict-of-interest restrictions for the architect.
Board approved an amended FY25–26 second-quarter budget resolution (6–1) and endorsed posting the draft 2027–28 school calendar for public comment Jan. 13–30, 2026 (6–1). Both measures passed with Mister Hensley recorded as the lone no vote on each.
Board member Ken Benway delivered an extended critique of social-emotional learning (SEL), cited CASEL and philanthropic support, and asked the district to provide originating legislation, implementation directives, teacher orientation materials, and pilot data to the board for review.
The board approved the consent agenda 5–2 after member Mister Hensley said a promotion of the interim school police chief to permanent chief was included without interviews; Hensley and one other member voted against the consent package.
