Jones County School District

The board meeting included several key agenda items such as a business partnership award presentation to Bosch for their support of the CTE program, updates on child nutrition programs and summer meal initiatives, and various academic and operational recognitions including lighthouse school status and National Honor Society inductions. Financial and operational actions included approval of lottery renovation funds, authorization of a three-year Apple lease agreement for iPads, adoption of a beginning teacher support plan, modifications to local board attendance policy 4400, and approval of NCSBT participation agreements. Additionally, the board approved several budget amendments, provided delegation of authority to the superintendent for end-of-fiscal-year adjustments, adopted a budget resolution for the upcoming fiscal year, and initiated a policy change to allow facility fee waivers for deceased students or staff.

The board meeting covered several key items, including a departmental update highlighting a partnership for the DARE program, student athletic and academic achievements, and the district's high ranking in a teacher working condition survey. Discussion took place regarding upcoming testing, and the board approved an out-of-state field trip request for HOSA students, a lottery funds request for school bathroom renovations, a policy update regarding board member compensation, and a budget modification to include an additional transportation allocation.

The board meeting focused on several key administrative and financial topics. Discussions included revisions to policies regarding video and audio recording by students and employees, the adoption of a 2026-2027 school board meeting schedule, and the approval of modifications to compensation and overtime policies to favor the use of comp time over accrued vacation leave. The board also reviewed and approved adjustments to the school fee schedule, budget amendment number six, and the planning budget for fiscal year 2027. Additionally, the board received updates on various educational programs, student achievements, and the status of capital funding.

Key discussions during the meeting included the recognition of a volunteer from the North Carolina Corporative Extension for dedication and service on the business advisory council for 13 years. Department updates highlighted obtaining an NC SIP grant for teacher professional development focused on math and elementary education, and updates on student leadership days. The Superintendent's update covered school events, recognition of a student selected as a governor's page, and upcoming community events such as the celebration of American 250 and an NC film production schedule. Action items addressed the renewal approval for HMH textbooks for the 2026-2027 school year, the nomination of a board member for the legislative committee, approval of budget amendment number five which included increased allocations for CTE programs and summer reading camps, approval of the annual audit contract for fiscal year 2026, and approval of a new retainer agreement for local counsel regarding national social media litigation after the previous counsel's passing, noting the denial of the defendants' motion for summary judgment.

The meeting began with the election of board officers, resulting in Mr. Sham Brown being elected as the chairman and Miss Steel as the vice chair. A discussion item focused on the YMCA after-school care program, presented by Charlie Myers, detailing its implementation in Jones County starting at two schools (Trenton and Mazeville) and noting the sliding scale fee structure based on income. The board also held a first reading of a new fire condition policy, created to simplify compliance with state fire codes, OSHA, and local regulations regarding fire safety, including stipulations for storage, classroom coverage, and space heaters. Department updates highlighted the maintenance department head's retirement after 13 years of service, school sites obtaining over $22,000 in Bright Ideas grants, revolutionary history lessons presented to elementary students, and positive feedback from the North Carolina Teacher of the Year who toured Trenton Elementary. Upcoming events included vision screenings by the Lions Club, NC Symphony Quartet performances, and the start of fall EOCC testing, with the first semester ending soon. Discussion also occurred regarding the PLS updates, specifically a policy change related to shielding personal information about members and volunteers from nonprofit organizations, in compliance with new legislation.