[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6059843,"mediaKeyId","3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f","parentId",3293544,"title","District warns ESSER denials and reimbursement timing could stall capital projects; vendors have unpaid invoices","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4538000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f&start=4538&end=4538","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f/thumbnail_4538000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6059843/North-Carolina/District-warns-ESSER-denials-and-reimbursement-timing-could-stall-capital-projects-vendors-have-unpaid-invoices","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059843-ae03c967a9bd7388bb73efa3779712ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985016&Signature=lfP~xklunX6s~Xy7UgFqdJR4NoFu7SZJFECcCHMSGdIS3mkfabO5Fh0~uht1L1t~M-oY14wz02K2IM2gcFHvK5SV1Owi5eNHl6lE0wW~054zGSyctRrPd1kaG1iop14EUT880FwKDzad75F5MyytEcAYnZLPnZ5M9o0pM13H~vDAHSSe~Q6zeTvy4FF8-Dff6lMiPxv60MjtlJfhm5hcYgRF5Z9034opC9b9vsqYju-7jhW4XeNMPmqD0OtCwXHUXvFUlbaYlXjpUxc3IdQziYY0JoIr4DMjqJx-2SslbzufhEoC2KtKEwgOFChteiWSKTpF99X3O0WcSh3BvGVgzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Public Schools of Robeson County","date","2025-05-08T12:34:40Z","article","District legal and finance counsel told the committee that changes at the U.S. Department of Education around how ESSER funds are reviewed and denied have created cash-flow and reimbursement problems that jeopardize ongoing capital projects.

Mister Schwartz, speaking about litigation and appeals, said the district and state are coordinating with attorneys after a preliminary injunction in a Southern District of New York case altered the appeals process and review standard for some projects. \"The judge issued a preliminary injunction... they said that the department could invoke a process where they would give 14 days to appeal any cut off of funds,\" he said, adding that the department has given states an appeals window in some cases and that the appeals standard now emphasizes whether a project \"provides necessary services that directly mitigate the effects of COVID on students' education,\" a standard district counsel said did not match earlier, broader guidance for allowable ESSER uses.

Cash-flow and vendor invoices: Finance staff said Snyder has three invoices outstanding (two identified at roughly $536,000 and $1.1 million, about $1.6 million total so far), installation and contractor invoices tied to the mSquare/Metcon projects are pending, and the district has been juggling county drawdowns and reimbursements. Erica said a $3.4 million check was deposited to the district and that the district planned to pay mSquare by the end of the week “minus the amount that we have to withhold for the finalization.” Finance staff warned the committee that, while many vendors have been cooperative so far, the district could face delays or halted work if payments are not made on schedule.

Why it matters: Staff said the department initially allowed ESSER dollars for a broad set of mitigation projects (HVAC, ventilation, roofs and related construction) but that the U.S. Department of Education is applying a narrower test in denials, creating a risk for in-progress projects that were approved under earlier guidance.

Next steps: Mister Schwartz said district counsel and state attorneys would meet with affected districts and DPI to discuss possible appeals and strategies, and that the district may seek the same appeals process others received. The committee received the briefing as information; no emergency decision or motion tied specifically to cash-flow was taken at the committee level.

Discussion vs. decision: Committee discussion focused on legal strategy, reimbursement timing and contingency steps; staff said they are coordinating with state and federal authorities and vendors and tracking invoices and project timelines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting of PSRC Board of Education: 5/13/25","oneSentenceSummary","District legal and finance staff said recent federal denials and changed appeals processes for ESSER reimbursements have created cash-flow stress on construction and equipment projects. Officials named Snyder and M Square among contractors with invoices pending and said a meeting with state attorneys and DPI is scheduled to discuss appeals.","taxTitle","Public Schools of Robeson County, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14184,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059846,"About 13–14 Robeson schools do not have a full-time SRO daily; district cites funding and municipal staffing limits",152,2083000,2235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f&start=2083&end=2235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f/thumbnail_2083000.jpg","/articles/6059846/North-Carolina/About-1314-Robeson-schools-do-not-have-a-full-time-SRO-daily-district-cites-funding-and-municipal-staffing-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059846-cf7464b98d5fa710ef542beb06bf21d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985016&Signature=dM24YMw0dzlNkuB6xVZawBFwm8RjeeTsGklHUi2Zu8609Dlw6iTBR1w2lRRg4eplrJk2zOn-tz3rxxW36ZDb-78GPS1dqP11n4FvA6Uoret8A80WXCdkiHjDN-tEls2w5D63r0pPyee47XgJ9SUGIbxxVhLpBd5I8c2bXU4pNWPM0M6RgCdq3xp5v6CJbDv1tvdIoMqGkSG4h7rZmw0ClddHndSCntd44hs-9r59Uk6XWdHg88cb-o9dPVZRw5NBmmNT5Ehve2FeGpHRoDkOFVTjliHmuBsQ3aBu9wtFZoA0Cpgc1P9tXqIlhd9iESVkZrkOZrbdAumpDm1uELCE9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District officials told the finance committee that while all high schools in Robeson County have multiple full-time school resource officers (SROs), roughly 13 to 14 schools do not have a full-time officer present every school day and instead share officers or have part-day coverage.

\"So it's roughly gonna be at least 13 to 14 schools that do not have a full time person in the building every single day,\" Bobby, a district official responsible for resource-officer coordination, said.

Cost and funding: The district said it spends about $2.2 million for SROs overall and that municipal partners (County of Robeson, City of Lumberton, Town of Red Springs, Town of St. Pauls and Town of Pembroke) supply officers in many cases while the district reimburses salary and benefits. Bobby said costs vary by municipality and provided an example range from roughly $160,000 to $162,000 per officer per year for one local contract.

Officials noted limited flexibility of some grants: a former practice allowed SROs to be funded from safe-schools money, but staff said rules and priorities have changed. \"Historically, you could pay for resource officers out of safe school money. That changed,\" a staff presenter said. They added that the district’s safe-schools allocation (about $181,000 referenced in discussion) would only cover a short period of officer costs and is a competitive grant that requires reapplication.

Operational options and constraints: Board members asked how the district could increase full-time coverage. Bobby said increasing coverage would require additional local funding and that law-enforcement agencies would need to provide officers; when the district previously increased SRO numbers it took three to six months for a law-enforcement partner to fill vacancies. The committee discussed that some schools share officers by proximity and that an increase in local appropriations would be necessary to place an SRO in every building full time.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee discussed coverage, costs and grant limits but recorded no formal vote on SRO staffing at the meeting.","District officials said all high schools have full-time school resource officers, but roughly 13 to 14 other schools lack a full-time officer every day. The district said funding and the ability of local law-enforcement agencies to assign officers affect coverage; the committee discussed potential costs and limited grant flexibility.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059851,"Robeson schools present 2025–26 planning budget; $3 million fund balance needed to balance continuation budget",857,1628000,2485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f&start=1628&end=2485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f/thumbnail_1628000.jpg","/articles/6059851/North-Carolina/Robeson-schools-present-202526-planning-budget-3-million-fund-balance-needed-to-balance-continuation-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059851-d0a5dc36e8e92cbe0a8643be71947dc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985016&Signature=AeETRN5Uy3Er4z7czqyDCSBs3C4aJH71Kj-7zjlbMNolrg5qoBbmOc~nRt8l8GZ-7akik17K8oBpmZikT4GbDUFM3m9MqCXV5SSylj7eC~ma2R8HjXWgA50M4mVJ1dLAoPsE9zPYwQfaimZyCcWW1eXi4iX2azmi1C0LsbrrRZXqgLuTAZU~vKeR2CdyxCns-Y5PLS1bGP5xt6XnZpYbWVx9r1XFEBoBUa0mr4yYfgsELQvSE~lW~Zd5jzA8zsw~Efzrnei1QyrOXUnUorlUJ6TLC2YQj2jiK4mN1dlTOg~mqJfjMKMsY5F7zeTJiyBbUL9rTwFdyt~kIKhKybttHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Schools of Robeson County finance committee reviewed the district’s 2025–26 planning budget and state planning allotments, and staff said the draft is a continuation budget that would require $3 million from fund balance to balance under current assumptions.

Key planning assumptions: Erica, a district staff member, told the committee the state implemented a 3% increase for classified employees in the current year, the retirement match dipped slightly from 25.2% to 24.04% and hospitalization costs rose from about $7,005.57 per person to $8,095 per person. The district reported an ADM (average daily membership) decline of 27 students in the current year and is planning for another projected ADM decrease of 52 students in 2025–26.

State allotments and funding specifics: Erica said planning allotments can change when the General Assembly finalizes the state budget. She said the district is using an ADM projection of 20,003.89 for 2025–26 and expects a $3.6 million increase in the low-wealth allotment for the district based on the state’s low-wealth formula. The district noted textbooks and digital resources (PRC 131) are restricted and carry over indefinitely, while most state allotments revert on June 30 unless otherwise specified.

Capital and cash-flow notes: Staff warned that capital projects tied to needs-based lottery funds and ESSER reimbursements have created timing and cash-flow stresses. The district said it is coordinating requests to the county to draw down lottery money and is tracking outstanding invoices tied to construction and equipment vendors.

Budget posture and next steps: Erica described the planned budget as a status-quo continuation, not an expansion. \"This is a continuation budget. This is not an expansion budget,\" she said. Staff said they will submit a detailed final budget once the state and federal allotments are finalized and will update the board at the regular meeting.

Action recorded: The committee moved and approved the 2025–26 planning budget at the meeting by voice vote; the chair announced the motion passed.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee debated staffing allotments, restricted nature of certain funding lines, capital timing and the need for board outreach to county commissioners about local funding levels.","District staff presented the 2025–26 planning budget showing assumptions about ADM declines, state allotments and rising benefit costs. The plan is a continuation budget that requires a $3 million use of fund balance to balance under current assumptions; officials flagged uncertainties tied to the general assembly and federal allotments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059856,"Finance committee approves sole-source contracts for IEP support and online course content",259,1175000,1434000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f&start=1175&end=1434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f/thumbnail_1175000.jpg","/articles/6059856/North-Carolina/Finance-committee-approves-sole-source-contracts-for-IEP-support-and-online-course-content","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059856-5eee0c71e850ec2aefc14bad5e9a10ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985016&Signature=aDrGjACsJPlJROvwUxdmVCZKQ8pd-UrQXlfwXDRuKoWlbuAk7wxpYs~4YXXvwbTkfc09IrI4iGqoHKiFVBjFwOEnFSmeMYmKKJ7hmBRlOvImQ2aCikWbpbYuP9JY4vtwA2t8wKXjV5knEm8ltc8ikOWtA1g410Ty31nCneYwUe79wQ65oK1IgYkvM9uPabPiRPhdq22u5WIs1v7yxcV2fhY5LMXF7wA-QrV48in-qLPrrEAmMeDaeLY5YlkOQM11QQgwiT~LO61gIKTjz3tLk2IxOoSnBh--8KO5jTtVF3IL06uFXna62QH2NqTSNyAkFTIs9MAhQylzWDGY-tKpbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Schools of Robeson County finance committee approved a sole-source request for Goalbook, a tool the district uses to help special-education teachers write IEP goals, and discussed related digital learning contracts for Apex and Canvas.

Why it matters: District staff said Goalbook assists newer and lateral-entry exceptional-children teachers in writing IEP goals aligned to standards and can reduce legal risk tied to improperly written IEPs. District leaders framed the sole-source procurement as a cost-management step to avoid larger legal costs.

\"This resource has allowed us with our brand new EC teachers... This helps us write effective goals for IEPs to prevent us from writing goals that are not aligned to the standard,\" Dr. Carr, an exceptional-children staff presenter, said. She added that Goalbook provides assessments, goals, resources and strategies to support teachers.

Procurement and funding: Staff said the Goalbook contract has been funded in the past with ESSER and that current textbook and digital-resources allocations (PRC 131) can cover the item because that line specifically covers textbooks and digital resources and cannot be used for staffing. \"Textbooks and digital resources have a unique focus. There's no flexibility there,\" Erica, a district staff member, said.

The committee also discussed Apex Learning and Canvas licenses. District staff said Apex provides prebuilt content and is used across the district for credit recovery, PSRC Online (which serves 200–600 students per semester depending on term), middle-school tutorials and ACT review. Apex was described as a three-year contract while Canvas was described as a one-year learning-management-system contract. Staff clarified that the 300 quantity shown in a procurement paper represents teacher licenses, not student licenses.

Action recorded: Committee members made and passed a motion to approve the sole-source requests during the meeting; the recorded rollcall was by voice and the chair announced the motion passed.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee discussed legal risk for EC compliance, limits on state textbook funds, and license scope; it voted to approve the sole-source request (voice vote).","The committee approved sole-source requests for Goalbook (IEP creation support) and discussed Apex/Canvas digital learning licenses; officials said the contracts address special-education compliance and district online learning needs and are funded through textbook/digital resources and other restricted funds.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059861,"Robeson schools to end COVID-era CNA positions; 34 roles set to lapse June 13",456,694000,1150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f&start=694&end=1150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3293544-d9017642def8f52c024d1109e13c234f/thumbnail_694000.jpg","/articles/6059861/North-Carolina/Robeson-schools-to-end-COVID-era-CNA-positions-34-roles-set-to-lapse-June-13","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059861-a761fba273b2415a1ed1f2963a557a8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985016&Signature=RT6J3HtxBIWyL3xrxDuAYmEdJx1jZR0IfF1YeJMY7nPdtWi7codD9siuU6bRz3LSPq-ZK8DVZpbmuu2TG6iPgvctAgycZ-jV-KDSpFkt61hhmC7RQKmohwtGQcPl8t~aFFGNwXvVO-18Swu5PvblJUvCXbVedWn8ZjTHHHFpGT02U21dsG34TZqClUXEfX-cQy6aup4VAzqkP1U3xbbrt61VV65sDambLgYGU6jTNFmd~5hA~CfjSctVPB1J6VRl6NdzTkSWsDwcPB9DLtfGa1COl1FMIIDa6o~7WGtJKINIxJ479W5~F1ps1GP8xwjE8LoCYZQpFj9ccxvJWLeJsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Schools of Robeson County finance committee was told that 34 certificated nursing assistant (CNA) positions created during the COVID-19 response will not be continued after June 13, district staff said.

The CNA roles “were originally created during the 2122 school year with a DHHS grant,” Erica, a district staff member, told the committee, adding that the original grant supported contact tracing and that “that grant covered the CNAs through the 2223 school year.” Erica said the district used ESSER 3 funding to pay the positions through Sept. 30, 2024, and that 34 positions now remain.

Why it matters: The CNAs were hired to help with COVID contact tracing when school nurses and on-site health staff were overwhelmed; ending the funded positions could change how schools handle day-to-day health incidents and data collection unless other staffing adjustments are made.

District legal counsel Kamal told the board the cutoff does not qualify as a reduction in force under district policy because the positions were tied to specific, time-limited funding. “Those positions were tied to a direct funding. And since that fund is no longer present or available, we’re able…to release those employees. So this is not considered a rift,” Kamal said.

Officials provided numbers: the CNA program began with 52 positions; 34 remain and the district estimates those 34 positions cost $1,484,000 including salary, a 2% supplement, FICA and retirement match, and hospitalization. Of the 34, Erica said 24 are paid from state low-wealth allotments and 10 are paid from federal Title IV or PRC 108 funding.

Board members asked about immediate operational impacts. Bradley asked what the district would have in place for school nurses after the CNAs departed; staff said all school nurses currently employed will be retained and that each school previously covered by nurses will continue to have assigned nurse schedules that can be updated as needed. “Prior to our CNAs, every school was covered by a school nurse,” Erica said, while district staff clarified some nurses cover multiple sites or split days between locations.

Committee members pressed whether affected CNAs had been notified. Erica said staff have signed yearly documents acknowledging that positions could end pending funding, but that the district had not yet issued final individual notices for next school year; staff said they plan to notify employees and give them priority for other openings.

Discussion vs. direction vs. decision: Committee discussion described funding timelines, staffing coverage and legal status. There was no formal board vote recorded on the CNA positions during the finance committee; staff said the positions will end when funding ends and that affected employees will be given priority for other roles.","The finance committee heard that 34 certificated nursing assistant (CNA) positions created during COVID will not be continued after June 13 as the grant funding that created them has ended. The district described how the roles were funded, how many positions remain, and how the district plans to prioritize affected staff for other openings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District warns ESSER denials and reimbursement timing could stall capital projects; vendors have unpaid invoices

About 13–14 Robeson schools do not have a full-time SRO daily; district cites funding and municipal staffing limits

Robeson schools present 2025–26 planning budget; $3 million fund balance needed to balance continuation budget

Finance committee approves sole-source contracts for IEP support and online course content

Robeson schools to end COVID-era CNA positions; 34 roles set to lapse June 13