Summary of "Harnett County Board of Education Meeting - April 7, 2025"

The Harnett County Board of Education held its regular meeting on April 7, 2025, covering a wide range of administrative, educational, operational, and policy topics.

Key Highlights:

Agenda and Policy Updates: The board amended the agenda to move a Title IX-related policy (17254357236) from the consent agenda to an action item. They discussed federal-mandated updates to Title IX grievance procedures, reflecting recent changes in federal regulations. The updated policies will be formally adopted in the next meeting.
Special Recognition: Kevin Spears, a state champion athlete from Hornet Central, was recognized despite his absence. His achievement was celebrated as a significant honor for the school and community.
Public Comment: Rebecca Brock expressed concerns about Superintendent Matthews holding two significant county roles simultaneously, questioning whether this dual responsibility might impact his attention to the school system, especially during critical testing periods.
Superintendent’s Update: Superintendent Matthews briefed the board on two pending Senate bills: one proposing changes to the school calendar to allow earlier start dates and block scheduling adjustments, and another aiming to end block scheduling entirely by limiting class periods to 50 minutes. He also mentioned a scheduling conflict for the last board meeting of the year and a request from the county manager to arrange a meeting among various county and school board leaders to discuss the use of schools as early voting sites.
Auxiliary Services Update: Updates included progress on construction projects such as the Flatwoods school pre-construction meeting and gym construction at Lillington Shawtown, expected to be ready before the next Christmas break. Positive collaboration with county officials was noted, especially regarding unexpected repairs like roof damage. Emergency preparedness drills are planned for Northwest Hornet, located in a designated emergency zone. Expansion of free lunch programs (Community Eligibility Provision schools) is under consideration. Athletic conferences are adjusting gate prices to $10 due to rising costs, with encouragement for family or booster club passes to ease financial burdens.
Curriculum and Instruction: The district is focused on end-of-year testing preparations, summer programs, and professional development. Grants were received for math teacher effectiveness and professional development. Numerous student competitions and events such as Battle of the Books, Lego Robotics, and Skills USA were highlighted. Upcoming events include the Special Olympics and a prom for exceptional children.
Human Resources: High completion rates for teacher evaluations were reported, with many schools achieving near or full 100% compliance. The district’s teacher attrition rate has dropped from 21.8% in 2023 to 17.6% in 2024, outperforming several regional districts. Recruitment efforts include job fairs, international teacher hiring, and ongoing professional development. Bus driver training remains a challenge due to licensing requirements, but efforts continue with a waiting list of candidates. An upcoming educator banquet will honor all staff.
Student Services: A partnership with Hazel Health will launch telehealth mental health services for students, with a press conference scheduled for May 7, 2025. Changes to credit recovery policies will require numeric grades for recovered credits starting in 2025-26, with a minimum grade threshold for eligibility. Expansion of AVID programs is under consideration, possibly adding elementary sites.
Financial Services: Open enrollment for employee benefits is scheduled for late April to early May. Vision plan allowances will slightly increase. Discussions continue regarding potential salary-tiered health insurance premiums. The district awaits updates on low-wealth funding from state legislators. The superintendent’s recommended budget includes a 12% supplement increase, a 3% salary increase, and funding for facility needs totaling nearly $40 million in operational expenses and $193 million in capital projects.
Public Information: Celebrations included Read Across America events, Military School Partnership activities, Hornet Off Broadway arts presentations, student achievements in music and art, and robotics competitions. Social worker appreciation and upcoming events such as National Assistant Principals Week and the job fair were noted.
Bus Patrol Program: The current contract with Bus Patrol is ending. The program issues citations for stop-arm violations, with about 1,911 first-time offenders this school year. The district is not revenue positive due to high monthly technology fees. Payment compliance is around 74%, but no DMV tag blocking is currently enforced. Discussions about contract renewal and fee adjustments are ongoing.
School Resource Officer (SRO) Program: There are 22 SRO positions with three vacancies, including a noted concern about coverage at Johnsonville. State certification requirements make filling these positions challenging. Sheriff Wayne Coats thanked the board for increased incentives and emphasized the priority of fully staffing SROs for school safety.
TA-to-Teacher Partnership with Campbell University: A proposal was presented to partner with Campbell University to support teacher assistants pursuing teaching degrees, focusing on special education (EC) teachers. The program would be fully funded for tuition and some