North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
At its Feb. 23 meeting the Catawba County Board of Education approved the 2026-27 budget draft request, revised capital outlay request, audit contract, E-rate and WAN amendments, pre-K tuition increase, curriculum purchases, master service agreements, architectural firm selection, multiple policies and personnel actions — all recorded as approved.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
The Catawba County Board of Education on Feb. 23 adopted a revised library selection/review policy and a nonsectarian invocation policy after public comments from librarians, parents and students. Both measures passed unanimously on second reading.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
The Catawba County Board of Education unanimously elected Tim Sedlmeier as chair and April Underwood as vice chair for 2026, approved a slate of committee assignments and established a separate Mental Health Advisory Board with Miss Teague and Miss Underwood named as members.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
The board approved a memorandum of understanding to implement the Standard Response Protocol with the I Love You Guys Foundation and authorized a January roll‑out with materials and training for staff and students as described by Stephen Westmoreland.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
The board approved a joint educational affiliation agreement allowing UNC Charlotte students to obtain clinical hours at Saint Stephen's High School in partnership with Catawba Valley Medical Center; district staff said the arrangement mirrors a similar agreement with App State and will be used on a case-by-case basis.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
The board unanimously approved two new state-aligned courses, Robotics 1 and Robotics 2, for Saint Stephen's High School for the 2026–2027 school year; Blair Miller will teach the pathway and the curriculum aligns with state standards.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
During public comment, Lori Fowler told the Catawba County Board of Education that students staged a walkout at Saint Stephen's High School during school hours and criticized the district for not informing parents in advance; she urged a policy change to ensure parental notification for similar events.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
The board approved a $89,500 quote to replace a flooded activity bus, authorized a change in scope and corresponding owner-contractor contract for the Fred T. Ford High School sawmill building (scope value increasing from $224,276 to $278,473), and finalized the Maiden Middle School HVAC change order and contract; all votes were unanimous.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
Multiple public commenters addressed the board on Nov. 24, praising the late Dr. Leslie Barnett, contesting a proposed employee social media policy, objecting to a pre-meeting Christian prayer, and alleging past abuse and cover-ups by district leaders.
North Carolina / School Districts / Catawba County Schools
Catawba County Board of Education used a nomination-ballot method to fill the vacancy left by the late Dr. Leslie Barnett and selected Greg Whitener by majority vote after three nominees were considered.