Summary of Lee County Schools Board of Education

The Lee County Board of Education meeting covered several key topics, reports, and decisions affecting the school district’s operations and future planning.

Closed Session:
The meeting began with a closed session to discuss confidential student and personnel information and to consult with the board’s attorney.

Opening and Formalities:
The board recited the pledge of allegiance and reviewed the district’s vision statement emphasizing a safe, supportive environment and commitment to student growth, innovative learning, and educator support. The board reaffirmed adherence to a strict code of ethics to avoid conflicts of interest and maintain confidentiality.

Public Comments:
Malia Laus, a Lee County Schools alumna and current coordinator at the North Carolina State Capital, presented an initiative called the “Learning Happens Here Fund.” This fund supports school field trips by covering costs such as substitute teachers, bus transportation, food, and admissions to various educational sites, including the state capital and museums. Laus highlighted that Lee County was missing from the fund’s participant list and encouraged the board to engage with the program to provide students with enriching learning experiences outside the classroom.

Chairman’s Report:
The chairman praised staff and board members for their ongoing training efforts. Dr. Dawson Bach explained a successful fundraising effort that secured over $25,000 from vendors to fund the upcoming Accelerate Learning Conference and convocation without using local, state, or federal funds. These events will include meals and giveaways for attendees. Board training sessions are planned to begin in late August, coinciding with the start of the school year.

Superintendent’s Report (Dr. Dawson Bach):

• Alerted the board about a potential federal funding cut totaling nearly $1 million, affecting Title II (professional development), Title III (ESL), Title IV (afterschool and enrichment), and Title 1C (migrant education). While not confirmed, the district is monitoring the situation and has budgeted with caution.
• Provided an update on the Lee County High School visitor bleacher reconstruction, which will start soon and finish before football season, saving rental costs.
• Announced an upcoming leadership retreat focused on personality assessments, data review, and strategic planning.
• Noted that over 400 staff are registered for the July summer conference, a record number, and new teacher orientation is scheduled for late July.
• Tramway teachers returned, with students starting soon.

Finance Report:
Presented May financials showing expenditures at about 88% of the budget, with remaining funds around $15.9 million. The finance team is preparing a budget amendment for the fall after the fiscal year audit. Board stipends will now be included in the board expenses report for transparency.

Committee Reports:

• Curriculum & Instruction: No recent meeting; next scheduled for October.
• Discipline: Next meeting in September.
• Operations:
  • Warren Williams school relocation to WB Wicker campus is complete with upgrades including playground, security door, and classroom expansions.
  • Bus garage Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was reviewed with six submissions; CRA Associates was recommended for the project.
  • Child nutrition contracts for 2025-26 were reviewed, including a new local produce supplier supporting farm-to-school initiatives.
  • Exceptional Children (EC) contracts exceeding $50,000 were discussed; the district is pursuing a resolution to address underfunding due to a cap on EC funding despite having a higher percentage of EC students than the cap allows.
  • Other contracts include occupational training services and interlocal agreements for bus services.
  • Incident IQ HR software package proposed to streamline employee onboarding.
  • Medicaid services contract with Public Consulting Group was reviewed.
  • Next operations committee meeting scheduled for late August; a special meeting may be called regarding the bus garage.
• Policy: Next meeting scheduled for August.

Action Items:

• The consent agenda, which included required legal contracts and funding approvals, was approved unanimously after discussion.
• The board awarded the transportation facility architecture and engineering services contract to CRA Associates, noting their good track record of staying near budget and experience with similar projects.
• Second reading and approval of Title IX policy updates were completed.
• Budget amendments for the fiscal year were approved, reflecting no unexpected changes and marking a positive financial position for the district.
• Personnel reports and one-year teacher contracts were approved.

Closing:
The meeting adjourned following the approval of all agenda items.

Presenters and Contributors:

• Madam Chair (unnamed)
• Malia Laus (Public Comment)
• Dr. Dawson Bach (Superintendent)
• Miss Kelly (Finance)
• Megan (Curriculum & Instruction Committee)
• Operations Committee Members (unnamed, including discussion led by board members)
• Mr. Gastra (Policy and Personnel)
• Cindy (Training and Resolutions)
• Susan (Board Staff, assisted with materials)
• James (Assisted with resolutions documentation)

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