Board funds CCHS national Beta Club, tables Stone Memorial state-championship funding amid policy concerns

The Cumberland County Board of Education approved requested funding for the CCHS Beta Club to attend a national convention and discussed a separate request to help fund Stone Memorial Middle School's Division 2 state champion basketball and cheer teams.

The Beta Club request, which falls under the district's established policy for national competitions, was moved and approved by roll call; one member abstained because their child is a club member.

Board members then discussed the Stone Memorial request, which sought 75 percent of the trip cost (approximately $1,500) for a state competition. Current policy explicitly funds national competitions at a 25 percent rate up to a $1,500 maximum; the item does not fall under national-competition policy. Members raised concerns about setting precedent for state competitions and fairness to other teams and clubs that also travel to state events.

The board did not take final action on Stone Memorial's request. Members asked staff to explore alternate funding sources, to consider whether the policy should be amended to address state competitions, and to return the item to a future work session for decision. The board also asked finance staff to identify potential budget lines that could cover a one-time exception if justified.