Personnel, fencing lead April discussions

School Board Meeting

The Moore County Board of Education met on Monday, April 14, to discuss budget updates, personnel changes, capital projects, and strategic planning.

Budget & Salary Updates

• Director of Schools Chad Moorehead shared updates on the 2025–26 budget planning, including a proposed increase to the minimum teacher salary from $44,500 to $47,000-47,250. He also intends to mirror the county’s proposed 3% raise for support staff. Ultimately, he wants the teachers' minimum salary to be $50,000.

• A new school bus remains on the budget list, and Moorehead provided board members with updated mileage data for the fleet.

• He also expressed optimism about funding new textbooks this year through a budget amendment rather than including them in next year’s budget.

Personnel Changes

• The board approved several resignations and retirements. band director Greg Jones, music instructor Vicki Halcomb, and high school teacher Missy Coble all plan to retire. IT technician Tim DeLaughter and elementary teacher Emily Hill submitted resignations to take other jobs.

The board expressed gratitude for their service and unanimously approved all personnel changes.

Safety Fencing Discussion

• The board discussed safety concerns regarding the lack of fencing between the school campus and Highway 55, especially near the baseball field along the first base dugout. Moorehead presented cost estimates and options for a six-foot fence, noting that the area in question may slightly encroach on the highway right-of-way.

Board member Kaleigh Hatfield (District 4) asked if a guardrail along Highway 55 might be a better solution, which would require TDOT involvement. The board agreed to table the matter for further research.

Strategic Plan Adoption

• The board unanimously adopted the updated 2025-30 Strategic Plan, emphasizing that it is a living document meant to evolve annually based on test data and school-level goals.

Music & PE Curriculum Changes

• With the elementary music teacher's upcoming retirement, Moorehead proposed a shift in how music education is delivered. Music standards would be integrated into classroom learning and art classes. At the same time, the district would hire an additional PE teacher to help meet new state mandates requiring 40 minutes of daily recess and increased physical activity.

Board Chair Tanya Vann (District 5) expressed concern about maintaining music’s educational value without a dedicated teacher, but the board did not take action on the matter.

State Testing

• State testing began this week and will run through next week, with make-ups to follow, if necessary.