CMS board to tighten oversight of construction costs

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board is slated to vote Tuesday on a policy that requires board approval of construction and repair “change orders” of more than $100,000.

The state legislature voted June 30 to require school boards to adopt policies related to such cost changes, although it didn’t specify the terms. The school board’s vote is being taken without the usual public hearing in order to meet the state’s Oct. 1 deadline.

Although the state is demanding the change, tighter scrutiny of construction projects is relevant to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Superintendent Heath Morrison resigned under pressure in November 2014 after CMS lawyer George Battle III told board leaders that Morrison had misled the board and withheld information about cost overruns at the UNC Charlotte early college high school.

The proposed policy revision would authorize the superintendent to approve contract changes up to $100,000 but require a monthly report to the board on all such changes. Larger changes would require a board vote.

Also Tuesday, the board will hold a public hearing on policy changes clarifying what’s unacceptable in supervisor/employee relationships. The new policy spells out that supervisors may not oversee family members, roommates, domestic partners or employees with whom they are having “a romantic, dating or sexual relationship.”

If a change in jobs or relationships creates such a situation, the people involved must report to human resources within five days or face termination.

Tuesday’s meeting also includes time for brief public comments on any topic and a report on the result of last year’s effort to get reading volunteers paired with thousands of students. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 E. Fourth St. To speak, call 980-343-5139 by noon Tuesday or sign up on site before the meeting.

Get the agenda and a link to live web streaming at www.cms.k12.nc.us/boe

This story was originally published September 11, 2016 at 5:10 PM with the headline "CMS board to tighten oversight of construction costs."