March 16, 2026 Gaston County Board of Education Meeting

The March 16, 2026 meeting of the Gaston County Board of Education primarily focused on recognizing student athletic achievements and discussing educational programs and community concerns. Key procurement-related discussions included a finance update revealing a $3.2 million transfer from the school capital allocation to the general fund to cover operational expenses, and the implementation of a spending and purchasing freeze effective March 1st due to budget constraints. The board reviewed several capital projects, including the selection of a general contractor for Belmont Elementary and New Hope Elementary under a Construction Manager at Risk (CM at risk) contract, and discussed a change order for Greer Turf. Additionally, contracts related to academic resources, including Chromebook replacements and funding for exceptional children’s programs, were presented for approval. The superintendent’s budget request totaled $67.6 million, covering inflation, employee compensation, benefits, and capital maintenance. The board also addressed community concerns about proposed school reconfigurations and emphasized the separation of capital and operational funds in budgeting. No votes on new contracts were detailed in the transcript, but several contract approvals and capital projects were recommended for the consent agenda.