Eric Babbitt

The meeting included recognition for the Student of the Month, Artist of the Month, and the ABCD Award recipient. The Board also recognized the MHS Varsity Football Team and the MMS Varsity Girls Basketball Team for their Conference Championship victories. The School Board received recognition for School Board Appreciation Month. Selma Burke Middle School leadership provided an update on the WEB Leaders mentoring program. Staff reports covered updates on maximizing opportunity and achievement, including kindergarten registration, MTSS meetings, data reviews, the Skills for the Future Pilot, Gateway Projects, AIG goals, academic competitions, and the College and Career Promise Program. Updates on the Safe, Happy, and Healthy initiative included increased mental health therapy sessions via partnership with Children's Hope Alliance, SEL curriculum evaluation, Section 504 auditing, and the training of a new K9 named Duke. Athletic updates covered upcoming basketball games and the halfway point for winter sports. Human Resources and Finance reported on mid-year orientation, an upcoming Career Fair, and the distribution of state legislative performance bonuses based on 2024/2025 student performance. Communications updates addressed ParentSquare enrollment, advisory committee meetings where discussions centered on legislative updates and conflict resolution, and an upcoming MLK Jr. Community Peace Walk. The Superintendent focused the district's main priority on advocating for competitive staff compensation, detailing economic pressures like housing costs and inflation outpacing teacher pay increases, noting that the lack of a state budget for 2025-26 effectively resulted in a pay decrease for staff due to increased insurance rates. Items for information included a review of proposed MGSD policy revisions recommended by the NCSBA. Items for approval included the contract for the 2026 financial audit, approval of budget amendments to allocate additional state and federal revenue, and approval of the 2026-2027 MGSD academic calendar. The Board concluded by entering closed session to review personnel matters and consult with the board attorney before approving the personnel list and adjourning the meeting.

The Board Work Session agenda required formal approval for changing a teacher workday to a student day due to inclement weather utilization. Information items included mid-year updates on the Strategic Plan across four areas: Maximize Opportunity & Achievement (MOA), Safe, Happy & Healthy (SHH), Recruit, Grow, Retain (RGR), and Culture of Relationships (COR). Discussions focused on durable skills data, safety perceptions, staff development trends, and family communication concerns. Secondary schools provided updates highlighting academic growth, the impact of new state retesting policies, vaping reduction strategies, and mentoring groups. Elementary schools reported on Oral Reading Fluency gains, implementation of targeted reading interventions, and trauma-informed behavior approaches. The Board also reviewed and approved personnel actions, including new hires, role changes, and non-continuing statuses, following a closed session.

Key discussions during the work session centered on several operational and financial areas. An update was provided on the $1,500,000 athletic grant, noting that $153,036.43 remains to be spent by June 30, 2026, for capital improvements or equipment. Capital Projects updates included completed and scheduled 2025-2026 items such as security camera installation, ongoing maintenance projects, and HVAC upgrades. Plans for additional sales tax revenue funds were outlined for various projects, including office relocation, building renovations, and stadium improvements. A projection for 2026-2027 capital projects was also presented, focusing on compliance upgrades, maintenance, and renovations. Long-range capital planning suggested approximately $11.3 million in needed upgrades for HVAC, roofing, and other facility systems. The 2026-27 local budget, presented with estimated figures due to the unadopted state budget, included provisions for an estimated 4% salary increase and adjustments to retirement rates, budgeting approximately $1.4 million in fund balance to potentially absorb shortfalls in state and county funding. Preliminary conversations were shared regarding engaging a third-party entity to analyze enrollment trends and facility use.

The meeting began with acknowledgments referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision for education, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by a student. Agenda items included the approval of the agenda and previous meeting minutes. Significant segments focused on student and employee recognition, including the presentation of the Student of the Month, Artist of the Month (who presented his 3D model project), and the ABCD Award winner for staff excellence. Additionally, the board recognized the Moresville High School varsity football team for their conference championship and the Moresville Middle School varsity girls basketball team for their undefeated conference championship season. The board also received an instructional highlight presentation regarding the safe, happy, and healthy goal focused on reducing office referrals and detailing the implementation and positive impact of the Capturing Kids' Hearts SEAL lessons facilitated by WEB leaders.

The meeting included recognition segments such as National Reading Month, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by student volunteers. The agenda was approved, and minutes from the January 6, January 27 work session, and February 17 work sessions were approved. Key recognitions included the MGSD Student of the Month for February (Charbell Awad) and March (Cayenne Witherspoon), recognition of two monthly Artists of the Month (Miss Everham's first-grade class and Mary Umbberger), and recognition of two staff members for the February and March ABCD Awards (Ella Donahghue and Kiana Foy). The board also recognized seven educators who attained or renewed National Board Certification status and celebrated the Morrisville High School competitive cheer team for winning the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Invitational Championship.