BY DEBBIE PAGE

The Mooresville Graded School District Board of Education on Tuesday approved several fee changes for the 2025-2026 academic year.

These included out-of-district student tuition (based on Iredell County providing funding per average daily membership) now at $2,333.06 (an $82.06 increase) and an increase in the marching band fee from $200 to $250 annually.

The laptop fee was adjusted to $20 for students in grades 5-12 who take the device home.

With EC Pre-K classrooms moving to full day, the cost of wrap-around care (before and after school) for MGSD employees with a child in this program will be reduced from $375 a month to $180 a month.

These fees can be waived for students who demonstrate economic hardship.

DRUG TESTING REPORT

Director of School Safety Mark Reddick presented the 2024-25 results of the district’s Random Suspicionless Drug Testing Program.

He explained that the MGSD implements random student drug testing because of widespread substance abuse concerns, including those specific to MGSD. The program’s aims are to educate, deter, and support students about substance abuse, identify those in need of assistance, provide counseling, ensure safety in extracurricular activities, and foster a drug-free environment.

The drug testing program utilizes a contracted test administrator and a medical review officer, with school personnel arranging the logistics of testing without being directly involved in conducting drug tests or sample handling.

To ensure fairness and transparency, the test coordinator randomly selects a percentage of students subject to the random testing policy.

All students in grades 6-12 who participate in voluntary competitive school activities or privileges must agree to participate in the random student drug testing program. Students in interscholastic athletics and voluntary competitive extracurricular activities (provided annually by each school) and those with campus parking privileges may be tested.

These extracurriculars include cheerleading, chorus, drama, band, NJROTC, SkillsUSA, and other activities that engage in competition.

Participation in the random drug-testing program is mandatory only for students who elect to participate in voluntary activities for which participation is a privilege, not a right.

Participation in the random drug testing program is not be required to attend school or enroll in any class. However, every student attending the middle or high schools is subject to Policy 4325, Drugs and Alcohol, which prohibits the possession, use, transmission and being under the influence of drugs and alcohol while at school or at an off-campus school activity.

If a test is positive, the student has a temporary loss of activity or parking privileges, and the parent and student meet with administration and are given community resources for a drug cessation course.

Once the student produces a negative test, participation privileges are reinstated.

During the 2024-2025 school year, a total of 315 students (166 male, 149 female) were tested.

Of those tested, 205 (65%) were enrolled at MHS, 59 students (19%) were enrolled at MMS, and 51 students (16%) were enrolled at SBMS.

Eight individuals tested positive for an illegal drug in 2024-2025, representing 2.5 percent of the students tested. This is an increase over the seven positives in 2022-2023 but a decrease from nine in 2022-2023. Prior to the 2021-2022 school year, one to four students tested positive each year.

In terms of racial demographics, the largest portion tested were white students (211 or 67%), with an additional 67 black (21%), 10 multiracial (3%), 17 Hispanic, (5%), 6 Asian (2%), and five American Indian students (2%) also tested.

Total testing costs were $9,152 for the 2024-2025 academic year at the cost of $29 per student. Costs were up about $2,000 this year because or rising processing costs and more students being tested.

i-READY PURCHASE

The board approved a three-year contract with i-Ready, a comprehensive assessment and instructional platform that MGSD has utilized at the K-5 level, to expand the platform to K-9 for a more streamlined instructional framework and universal screening process from kindergarten through middle school, according to Director of Secondary Instruction Tracey Waid.

Teacher and staff examined multiple platforms before the decision to expand i-Ready to middle school. A three-year contract ensures instructional program consistency and a competitive rate of $124,519.39 annually from July 2025 through June 2028.

Disadvantaged Students Supplemental Funds will fund this contract.

SCHOOL NUTRITION BIDS

The board approved rollover bids for the district’s School Nutrition Program, including produce from Foster Caviness at $78,000 (year four of rollover fixed pricing), milk from Marva Maid Dairy at $131,500 (year three of rollover fixed pricing), and food and supplies from US Foods in Fort Mill at $945,500 (year three of rollover fixed pricing).

FACILITY USE FEES 2025-2026

The board kept the MGSD facility use fee structure the same for 2025-26. The schedule of fees and rental guidelines are available at https://mgsd.k12.nc.us/63950_2.

AIG LOCAL PLAN 2025-2028

The board unanimously approved the revised local 2025-2028 AIG plan, presented at the board’s May meeting, for required submittal to the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

The presentation outlined the policies and practices that guide the MGSD AIG program (available at https://mgsd.k12.nc.us/aig), its alignment with state legislation and standards, and the overall process for creating the updated plan.

CTE LOCAL PLAN 2024-2026

The board also approved an update to the 2024-2026 Career and Technical Education (CTE) local plan presented to the board last month. The update included a review of key initiatives from the 2024-2025 academic year as well as a review of the plan for next year.

The mid-plan update serves as an evaluation and assessment of the progression of established action steps and the creation of the new fiscal budget.

This plan requires annual board approval, although a two-year plan, because of budget requests, which include 309 months of employment (a nine month reduction), $102,505 in state funds (a $2,443 reduction), a projected $71,874 in federal funds, and a projected $55,376.46 in state funds for credentialing and certifications.

For more information on CTE programs, visit https://sites.google.com/students.mgsd.k12.nc.us/mhscte/home.

ABCD AWARD

Cindy Tyler, MGSD Finance Specialist at Central Office, was nominated by Chief Finance Officer Jonathan Smith and Chief Operations Officer Dr. Scott Smith for June’s Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award.

“From the first day of her employment with MGSD, she started cultivating authentic relationships with everyone in and outside of her department. She believes her primary reason for being here is to help others, which is evident in her daily actions.”

“Her list of job responsibilities is large, yet she always asks others if she can lend a hand and is happy to help. She has never once said that something was not her job and always maintains a wonderful attitude. Her outlook and work ethic are infectious and create a positive change in everyone around her.”

“She loves being empowered with knowledge and requires little to no assistance in most things. She steps up as a leader when needed and plays a vital role in supporting the core functions of finance operations.”

“She treats everyone kindly and equitably and has created a culture of trust with those she works with. Cindy is a rock star employee with MGSD, and the entire organization is better because of her.”