BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Mooresville Graded School District Board of Education held its year-end meeting on Wednesday to approve an interim budget for next fiscal year, finalize the current budget with necessary amendments, and approve a July technology purchase as part of its refresh plan.
Because the General Assembly still has not approved its budget, local school districts cannot finalize their budgets. Chief Financial Officer Angie Davis asked school board members to approve the district’s proposed interim budget for 2023-2024, in accordance with N.C. General Statute 115C-434.
This statute authorizes the board to make interim appropriations that allow the finance officer and superintendent to pay salaries and ordinary expenses of Mooresville Graded School District for the interval between the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1 until the adoption of the final budget resolution, which will be adopted no later than October 18.
In response to a query from member Debbie Marsh, Davis assured the board that all scheduled maintenance work this summer will still go on despite the lack of a final budget for next year. County appropriations for MGSD are already guaranteed, added Davis.
Marsh expressed her desire for Mooresville Middle School to get spruced up over the summer to remain comparable to the new Selma Burke Middle School opening in August.
Davis mentioned that parent and community groups are doing landscaping projects at the school this summer, freeing up some funds for other projects at the school.
The board unanimously approved the interim budget.
Davis also presented several pages of budget amendments for this fiscal year budget, which ends Friday, to account for the receipt of funds, including some federal money received as late as last week, as well as to pay bills from this fiscal year not yet received.
Fund balance will be used for some of these anticipated items, but Davis noted the amendments are estimates and she may not use all of the funds requested in the amendments.
The board approved the 2022-2023 budget adjustments 5-0.
INTERACTIVE BOARDS PURCHASE
After experiencing operating issues with a majority of the current interactive boards, the technology department developed a plan to replace all K-2 interactive boards over the next two years.
The interactive boards in the K-2 classrooms in MGSD are nearing end of life, and many are 15 or more years old. Some projectors have been replaced over the years, said Davis.
As part of the refresh plan, the board approved the purchase of interactive boards for first-grade classrooms at the April meeting. Those interactive boards are being installed this month.
Davis asked the board to approve the next step in the plan, slated for July of 2023, to purchase and install interactive boards for all second-grade classrooms across the district, a total of 31 Promethean interactive boards, at a cost of $116,515.33 from capital outlay funds.
In July of 2024, the plan is to purchase and install interactive boards for all kindergarten classrooms to complete the elementary level refresh before moving to refresh the intermediate level.
Davis said the technology department consulted with various teachers, instructional coaches and administrators at the elementary level to test different interactive boards before a final decision was made to select the Promethean boards through Bridgetek.
Marsh asked if additional funds were needed for teacher training on the new boards, but Davis said training was provided by the company at no extra cost. She added that some staff members were already proficient and could help train peers as well.
The board approved the purchase 5-0.
CLOSED SESSION
The board then moved into closed session to discuss the personnel report and conduct the superintendent evaluation prior to adjournment.
NEXT MEETING
The next MGSD Board of Education meeting is on Tuesday, August 15, at 6 p.m. at the Mooresville High Performing Arts Center.