The Pender County Board of Education held its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. After approving the agenda and completing a brief closed session, the Board moved through a full evening of recognitions, reports, and action items.
Board Leadership Updates
- Each December, the Board selects its officers for the coming year.
- Don Hall was unanimously elected Board Chair.
- Jennifer Hansen was unanimously elected Vice Chair.
- The Board also recognized outgoing Chair Beth Burns for her leadership over the past year.
Public Comment
One speaker, a parent from North Topsail Elementary, shared appreciation for the school’s staff, highlighting their compassion and the positive environment they create, especially for students with special needs.
Information Items
Magic School AI Overview
District leaders shared a presentation on Magic School AI, a set of tools designed to support educators and students while keeping student data secure. The tool offers help with lesson planning, accommodations, writing support, and tutoring features.
- The district intends to roll out the platform to teachers first.
- The cost to the district is $6 per student, funded annually, with no long-term contract required.
- Leadership emphasized that safety, consistency, and appropriate use at each grade level remain top priorities.
Construction Update: J.H. Lea K-8 School
Bordeaux Construction provided a detailed update on the progress of the new J.H. Lea K-8 campus.
Highlights include:
- All building foundations and concrete slabs are complete.
- Structural steel and second-floor slabs continue across multiple wings.
- Offsite sewer and roadway designs are awaiting final county and NCDOT approvals.
- The project remains on schedule, with substantial completion expected May 2027 and final completion in July 2027.
- Entry canopy designs were presented for review.
Transportation Department Update
Transportation Director Britton Overton shared progress on several initiatives:
- All bus cameras have been upgraded, and training on the new cloud-based video system is complete.
- New lockboxes will be installed on buses over winter break to improve key security.
- Radio system testing is nearly finished, with full implementation expected in January.
- The district currently maintains 17 double routes, down from last year’s 38, and continues to see improvement in on-time arrivals.
- All AM buses are running on time with no recent late arrivals which has made a big difference in the improvement and protection of instructional time of students.
- Recruiting and training drivers remains challenging due to statewide DMV delays, but Pender County Schools currently has 23 driver candidates in the pipeline.
Consent Agenda
The Board unanimously approved the following items:
- Monthly financial reports
- Budget amendments
- Policy updates (including the second read of the 3000-series policies)
- Attorney, fuel, and electric expenses
- Previous meeting minutes
Action Items
The Board approved several items, each unanimously:
Change Order – Corridor F107
- A construction modification that simplifies building methods without changing the project’s cost.
Pay Application #3 for MBP
- A project management payment of $18,924 for the J.H. Lea project.
J.H. Lea K-8 Construction Pay Application #17
- A payment of $5,193,316.93 toward ongoing construction.
Pre-K Head Start Grant (Year 2)
- Approval of a continuation application for more than $2 million, which supports staffing and curriculum needs within the five-year cycle.