OCS Board News | February 2024
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The Onslow County Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on February 6 at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items included a construction update.
At the beginning of the meeting, Board member Angie Todd requested that the Head Start Continuation Grant Application Approval be moved from the consent agenda to general business. The motion carried and the item was added to the agenda.
After a Good News Spotlight, which highlighted the accomplishments of OCS students and staff, and a public comment period with 15 speakers, the meeting’s general business was discussed.
In the first order of business, the Board heard from Dr. Brendan Gartner, who provided an update on the construction of Woodland Elementary School. Dr. Gartner said the project is progressing on time and within budget. All footers and the slab have been completed, and block work is in progress. Upcoming work includes general grading for drives and parking areas, metal stud installation, and roof truss installation.
Next on the agenda was the added item regarding the Head Start Continuation Grant Application. Board member Angie Todd and Louis Rogers expressed their concerns about the Conscious Discipline curriculum included in the Head Start program.
After discussion regarding the meaning of “conscious discipline” and its implementation in OCS preschool programs, the Board voted on each of the 5 parts of the Head Start grant application separately.
The first item, the Head Start Continuation Grant for 2024-2025 was approved in a 6-1 vote, with member Angie Todd casting the dissenting vote. Items two and three, the budget justification plan and the cost allocation plan for 2024-2025, were approved unanimously. Item four, the training and technical assistance plan, was approved 5-2, with members Angie Todd and Louis Rogers in disagreement. Item five, the transportation waiver, was approved unanimously.
The Onslow County Board of Education met in special session on Monday, February 5, for the purpose of considering an engagement structure for legal services, reviewing existing programs regarding advisory councils in OCS, and meeting in closed session pursuant to Open Meetings Law.
For the first item on the agenda, the Board heard from Superintendent Barry Collins and Katie Cornetto, a representative from Poyner Spruill LLP. Poyner Spruill was selected by the Board in November to serve as the district’s new general counsel, beginning this spring. The purpose of this agenda item was to select a pricing structure for the district’s engagement with Poyner Spruill.
Three options were presented to the Board:
- No monthly retainer. Billed hourly for all work.
- Hourly rates: $240 (partner and of counsel)/$215 (associates)/$95 (paralegal)
- $2,000 monthly retainer, including attendance at 1 Board meeting per month and 2 half-day trainings during the term of engagement.
- Hourly rates: $225 (partner and of counsel)/$200 (associates)/$95 (paralegal)
- $5,000 monthly retainer, including presence at all Board meetings each month, 4 half-day trainings during the term of the engagement, and policy work.
- Hourly rates: $215 (partner and of counsel)/$190 (associates)/$95 (paralegal)
Dr. Collins recommended option 3 to better serve the Board’s needs. Option 3 was approved 6-0. Board member Louis Rogers was absent at the time of the vote.
Next, the Board discussed the possibility of continuing a relationship with our current general counsel after the transition to Poyner Spruill. In the proposed engagement for legal services from Erwin Law Firm, the firm would stay on contract with the Board to handle local, procedural legal needs, such as bond forfeitures, lienholder petitions, reviewing custody orders, handling real estate matters, etc. The benefit of this engagement structure for the district would be having a local attorney nearby to handle procedural matters in local courts. All work handled by Erwin Law Firm would be billed at the rate of $200/hour.
The Board approved the engagement structure for legal services 5-2. Board members Louis Rogers and Angie Todd cast the dissenting votes.
Next on the agenda was a review of existing programs regarding advisory councils.
The Board heard from Dr. Chris Barnes, OCS chief academic officer, who shared an overview of current and historical legislation regarding requirements for advisory boards. Based on current legislation, he said, OCS meets all requirements, but there is certainly room for discussion on how to expand or improve the district’s parental and community involvement efforts.
After discussion surrounding whether an additional District Community Advisory Council is needed, and what specific purpose it would serve, the Board decided to reconvene later to establish the purpose of and feasibility of such a council.