NHCS Board of Ed. Regular Meeting | July 7th, 2026

The New Hanover County Schools Board of Education held its regular meeting on July 7, 2026. Key procurement-related discussions included approval of several contracts and fee schedules. The board approved a three-year contract renewal for the Document-Based Questions (DBQ) secondary social studies curriculum, which provides access to extensive primary source materials and supports critical thinking skills. They also approved increases to student activity fees, athletic admission fees, and facility use fees, citing rising costs and alignment with regional standards. Additionally, the board approved a 25-cent increase in school nutrition meal prices to offset food and delivery expenses. The meeting included clarifications on budget impacts related to recent state salary increases and bonuses, highlighting a $2 million shortfall due to partial state funding and increased employer retirement contributions. Policy updates were also discussed, including changes to whistleblowing protections and student conduct policies. The board emphasized transparency and accountability in capital projects and ongoing efforts to engage local vendors where possible. No new business or major contract awards beyond these were reported during the session.