reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-504 - Necessary information in petitions.

§ 115C-504. Necessary information in petitions.
The petition for an election shall contain such of the following information as may be pertinent to the proposed election:
(1) Purpose for calling the proposed election.
(2) A legally sufficient description of the area, by metes and bounds or otherwise, in which the election is requested.
(3) The maximum rate of tax which is proposed to be levied. This subdivision shall not apply to a petition for an election to enlarge a city administrative unit.
(4) If the petition is for an election to enlarge a city administrative unit, it shall state therein that, if a majority of those who shall vote in the area proposed to be consolidated with the city administrative unit shall vote in favor of such enlargement, such area shall be consolidated with the city administrative unit, effective July 1 next following such election, and that there shall thereafter be levied in such area so consolidated with the city administrative unit the same school taxes as shall be levied in the other portions of the city administrative unit, including any tax to provide for the payment of school bonds theretofore issued by or for such city administrative unit or for all or some part of the school area annexed to such city administrative unit, unless payment of such bonds has otherwise been provided for.
(5) If the petition for an election is to supplement and equalize educational advantages, and if any school districts in the area in which it is proposed to vote such a tax have heretofore voted a supplementary tax, the petition and the notice of election shall state that in the event such election is carried, it will repeal all local taxes heretofore voted in any district except those in effect for debt service in any district, unless such debt service obligation is assumed by the county or otherwise provided for. (1955, c. 1372, art. 14, s. 4; 1957, c. 1271, ss. 3-5; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-505 - Boards of education must consider petitions.

§ 115C-505. Boards of education must consider petitions.
The board of education to whom the petition requesting an election is addressed shall receive the petition and give it due consideration. If, in the discretion of the board of education, the petition for an election shall be approved, it shall be endorsed by the chairman and the secretary of the board and a record of the endorsement shall be made in the minutes of the board. Petitions for an election to enlarge a city administrative unit shall be subject to the approval and endorsement of both county and city boards of education which are therein affected.
Local boards of education shall have no discretion in granting an election to abolish a special school tax in any local school administrative unit, or district, or other school area, which has previously voted a supplemental tax, whenever a majority of the qualified voters residing in said local school administrative unit, district or school area shall petition for an election. When such a petition, showing the proper number of names of qualified voters, is presented to a board of education, it is hereby made mandatory that such petition shall be granted and the election held. If at the election a majority of those in the district who have voted thereon have voted "against local tax," the tax shall be deemed revoked and shall not be levied: Provided, that in Alexander, Anson, Beaufort, Buncombe, Carteret, Catawba, Chatham, Chowan, Cleveland, Craven, Currituck, Davidson, Duplin, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Henderson, Hoke, Hyde, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Mecklenburg, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Transylvania, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilkes Counties, petition of twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of voters in the election creating said special tax district, said petition to be signed by qualified voters residing in such special tax district, shall be sufficient.
The provisions of this section as to abolishing local tax districts shall not be applied when such local tax district is in debt in any sum whatever, or has obligated or committed its resources in any contractual manner: Provided, that no election for revoking a local tax in any local tax district shall be ordered and held in the district within less than one year from the date of the election at which the tax was voted and the district established, nor at any time within less than one year after the date of the last election on the question of revoking the tax in the district; and no petition seeking to revoke a school tax shall be approved by a board of education more often than once a year. (1955, c. 1372, art. 14, s. 5; 1957, c. 1100; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 24.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-506 - Action of board of county commissioners or governing body of municipality.

§ 115C-506. Action of board of county commissioners or governing body of municipality.
Petitions requesting special school elections and bearing the approval of the board of education of the local school administrative unit shall be presented to the board of county commissioners, and it shall be the duty of said board of county commissioners to call an election and fix the date for the same: Provided, that the board of education requesting the election may, for any reason deemed sufficient by said board which shall be specified and recorded in the minutes of the board, withdraw the petition by the twenty-fifth day before the election, and if the petition be so withdrawn, the election shall not be held unless by some other provision of law the holding of such election is mandatory. In the case of a city administrative unit in any incorporated city or town and formed from portions of contiguous counties, said petition shall be presented to the governing body of the city or town situated within, coterminous with, or embracing such city administrative unit, and the election shall be ordered by said governing body, and said governing body shall perform all the duties pertaining to said election performed by the board of county commissioners in elections held under this Article. (1955, c. 1372, art. 14, s. 6; 1959, c. 72; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 762, s. 9.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-507 - Rules governing elections.

§ 115C-507. Rules governing elections.
All elections under this Chapter shall be held and conducted by the appropriate county board of elections.
If the purpose of the election is to enlarge a city administrative unit, the notice of election shall include the following: a statement of the purpose of the election; a legal description of the area within which the election is to be held; and a statement that if a majority of those who shall vote in the area proposed to be consolidated with the city administrative unit shall vote in favor of such enlargement such area shall be consolidated with the city administrative unit, effective July 1 next following such election, and there shall thereafter be levied in such area so consolidated with the city administrative unit the same school taxes as shall be levied in the other portions of the city administrative unit, including any tax levy to provide for the payment of school bonds theretofore issued by or for such city administrative unit or for all or some part of the school area annexed to such city administrative unit, unless payment of such bonds has otherwise been provided for.
The notice of the election shall be given as provided in G.S. 163-33(8) and in addition include a legal description of the area within which the election is to be held, and, if any additional tax is proposed to be levied, the maximum rate of tax to be levied which shall not exceed the maximum prescribed by this Article, and the purpose of the tax.
No new registration of voters is required, but the board of elections, in its discretion, may use either Method A or Method B set forth in G.S. 163-288.2 in activating the voters in the territory.
The ballot in such election shall contain the words "FOR local tax and AGAINST local tax" except when the election is held under subsection (c) of G.S. 115C-501, in which case the ballots shall contain the words "FOR enlargement of the ____ City Administrative Unit and school tax of the same rate," and "AGAINST enlargement of the ____ City Administrative Unit and school tax of the same rate."
The elections shall be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 163 and the expense of the election shall be paid by the board of education of the administrative unit in which the election is held, provided that when territory is proposed to be added to a city administrative unit, that unit shall bear the expense.
No election held under this Article shall be open to question except in an action or proceeding commenced within 30 days after the board of elections has certified the results. (1955, c. 1372, art. 14, s. 7; 1957, c. 1271, ss. 6, 7; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 2011-31, s. 11; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-508 - Effective date; levy of taxes.

§ 115C-508. Effective date; levy of taxes.
(a) If, in any election authorized by this Article, a majority of the voters voting in such election vote in favor of the enlargement of a city administrative unit, such enlargement shall become effective July 1 next following such election; and thereafter there shall be levied and collected in the area consolidated with the city administrative unit the same school taxes as shall be levied in the other portions of the city administrative unit.
(b) If, in any election authorized by this Article, a majority of the voters voting in such election vote in favor of a supplemental tax, or in favor of the increase of a supplemental tax, or in favor of a tax to supplement and equalize educational advantages, the tax so authorized shall be levied and collected beginning with the fiscal year commencing July 1 next following such election. (1957, c. 1271, s. 8; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-509 - Conveyance of school property upon enlargement of city administrative unit.

§ 115C-509. Conveyance of school property upon enlargement of city administrative unit.
Before any election is called to enlarge a city administrative unit, if any school property is located in the area proposed to be consolidated with the city administrative unit, the board of education of such city administrative unit and the board of education of the county administrative unit concerned shall agree with each other as to the school property to be conveyed and transferred to the board of education of the city administrative unit if a majority of the voters voting in the election vote in favor of such enlargement. And, if such enlargement is authorized by such election, the board of education of the county administrative unit shall, within 10 days after July 1 next following such election, convey and transfer to the board of education of the city administrative unit the property so agreed to be conveyed and transferred. (1957, c. 1271, s. 8; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-511 - Levy and collection of taxes.

§ 115C-511. Levy and collection of taxes.
(a) If a local school administrative unit or district has voted a tax to operate schools of a higher standard than that provided by State and county support, the board of county commissioners of each county in which the local school administrative unit is located is authorized to levy a tax on all property having a situs in the local school administrative unit for the purpose of supplementing the local current expense fund, the capital outlay fund, or both.
(b) Before April 15 of each year, the tax supervisor of each county in which the local school administrative unit is located shall certify to the superintendent of schools an estimate of the total assessed value of property in the county subject to taxation on behalf of the local school administrative unit and any districts therein pursuant to this Article. The board of education, in the budget it submits to the board of county commissioners, shall request the rate of ad valorem tax it wishes to have levied on its behalf as a school supplemental tax, not in excess of the rate approved by the voters. The board of county commissioners may approve or disapprove this request in whole or in part, and may levy such rate of supplemental tax as it may find to be in the best interests of the taxpayers and the public schools, not in excess of the rate requested by the board of education. Upon approving a supplemental tax levy pursuant to this section, the board of county commissioners shall cause the school supplemental tax to be computed for all property subject thereto. The taxes thus computed shall be shown separately on the county tax receipts for the fiscal year, and the county shall collect the school supplemental tax in the same manner that county taxes are collected. Collections shall be remitted to the local school administrative unit within 10 days after the close of each calendar month. Partial payments shall be proportionately divided between the county and the local school administrative unit. The board of county commissioners may, in its discretion, deduct from the proceeds of the school supplemental tax the actual additional cost to the county of levying, computing, billing, and collecting the tax.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any part of a tax levied pursuant to this Article to be used for any purpose other than those purposes authorized by the election in the unit or district. (1955, c. 1372, art. 14, s. 9; 1965, c. 584, s. 12; 1975, c. 437, s. 6; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 36 - Voted Tax Supplements for School Purposes. › § 115C-512 - Expansion of existing supplemental school tax area pursuant to merger of school administrative units in certain counties.

§ 115C-512. Expansion of existing supplemental school tax area pursuant to merger of school administrative units in certain counties.
(a) This section applies to:
(1) Counties that have three school administrative units located entirely within the county, only one of which units has a supplemental school tax in effect that is levied exclusively by the elected school board of the administrative unit.
(2) Counties that have three school administrative units, two of which are entirely within the county and one of which is located in more than one county.
(b) If a school administrative unit in a county to which this section applies merges with another school administrative unit in the county, and one of the merging units has previously voted a supplemental school tax that is in effect prior to and at the time of the merger, then the geographic area subject to the supplemental school tax in effect prior to the merger shall be expanded to include the entire geographic area encompassed by the new school administrative unit resulting from the merger. The levy and collection of and the expenditure of revenues from the tax shall be expanded as herein provided without approval of the voters of the geographic area directly affected by the merger, and shall be used for purposes provided in G.S. 115C-501(a).
(b1) If legislation is enacted providing for the merger of two school administrative units located entirely within a county described in subdivision (a)(2), and one of the merging units has previously voted a supplemental school tax that is in effect, then from July 1, 1991, and for two years following the effective date of the merger, the board of commissioners of the county in which the units are located may create a special tax district pursuant to this Article consisting of one of the merging units and may levy a supplemental school tax in that district at a rate that is different from the rate levied in the remainder of the merged unit. The tax levied in the special district may be levied without approval of the voters of the district but may not exceed the amount of the supplemental school tax previously voted in one of the merged units. The supplemental school tax levied pursuant to this subsection may be used for any purpose for which a board of education may budget funds under Article 31 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
(c) Notwithstanding levying authority in existence prior to the merger, the board of county commissioners shall, upon merger of the administrative units, have the exclusive authority to levy the supplemental tax expanded in accordance with this section, provided that the tax shall be levied at a rate not to exceed the rate of the supplemental school tax in effect prior to the merger of the school administrative units. (1989, c. 768, s. 1; 1991, c. 325, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-517 - Acquisition of sites.

§ 115C-517. Acquisition of sites.
Local boards of education may acquire suitable sites for schoolhouses or other school facilities either within or without the local school administrative unit; but no school may be operated by a local school administrative unit outside its own boundaries, although other school facilities such as repair shops, may be operated outside the boundaries of the local school administrative unit. Whenever any such board is unable to acquire or enlarge a suitable site or right-of-way for a school, school building, school bus garage or for a parking area or access road suitable for school buses or for other school facilities by gift or purchase, condemnation proceedings to acquire same may be instituted by such board under the provisions of Chapter 40A of the General Statutes, and the determination of the local board of education of the land necessary for such purposes shall be conclusive. (1955, c. 1335; c. 1372, art. 15, s. 1; 1957, c. 683; 1969, c. 516; 1971, c. 290; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; c. 1127, s. 78; 1995, c. 199, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-518 - Disposition of school property; easements and rights-of-way.

§ 115C-518. Disposition of school property; easements and rights-of-way.
(a) When in the opinion of any local board of education the use of any building site or other real property or personal property owned or held by the board is unnecessary or undesirable for public school purposes, the local board of education may dispose of such according to the procedures prescribed in General Statutes, Chapter 160A, Article 12, or any successor provisions thereto. Provided, when any real property to which the board holds title is no longer suitable or necessary for public school purposes, the board of county commissioners for the county in which the property is located shall be afforded the first opportunity to obtain the property. The board of education shall offer the property to the board of commissioners at a fair market price or at a price negotiated between the two boards. If the board of commissioners does not choose to obtain the property as offered, the board of education may dispose of such property according to the procedure as herein provided. Provided that no State or federal regulations would prohibit such action. For the purposes of this section references in Chapter 160A, Article 12, to the "city," the "council," or a specific city official are deemed to refer, respectively, to the school administrative unit, the board of education, and the school administrative official who most nearly performs the same duties performed by the specified city official. A local board of education may also sell any property other than real property through the facilities of the North Carolina Department of Administration. The proceeds of any sale of real property or from any lease for a term of over one year shall be applied to reduce the county's bonded indebtedness for the school administrative unit disposing of such real property or for capital outlay purposes.
(b) In addition to the foregoing, local boards of education are hereby authorized and empowered, in their sound discretion, to grant easements to any public utility, municipality or quasi-municipal corporations to furnish utility services, with or without compensation except the benefits accruing by virtue of the location of the said public utility, and to dedicate portions of any lands owned by such boards as rights-of-way for public streets, roads or sidewalks, with or without compensation except the benefits accruing by virtue of the location or improvement of such public streets, roads or sidewalks.
(c) Any sale, exchange or lease of real or personal property by any local board of education prior to June 18, 1982, and pursuant to the authority of G.S. 115-126 is hereby validated, ratified and confirmed. (1955, c. 1372, art. 15, s. 2; 1959, c. 324; c. 573, s. 11; 1961, c. 395; 1975, c. 264; c. 879, s. 46; 1977, c. 803; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1216; 1983, c. 731; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 22.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-519 - Deeds to property.

§ 115C-519. Deeds to property.
All deeds to school property shall, after registration, be delivered to the superintendent of the local school administrative unit in which the property is located and he shall provide a safe place for preserving all such deeds. (1955, c. 1372, art. 15, s. 3; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-520 - Vehicles owned by boards of education.

§ 115C-520. Vehicles owned by boards of education.
All school buses, trucks, automobiles and other motor vehicles owned by local boards of education and used for transporting pupils to and from school or used by other school personnel in the performance of their work, shall be exempt from taxation, but all such vehicles shall be duly registered in the Division of Motor Vehicles as provided in G.S. 20-84. (1955, c. 1372, art. 15, s. 4; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-521.1 - Building standards for preschool students.

§ 115C-521.1. Building standards for preschool students.
A public school that voluntarily applies for a child care facility license may use an existing or newly constructed classroom in a public school for three- and four-year-old preschool students without modifications to the classroom or building if the classroom:
(1) Has at least one toilet and one sink for hand washing;
(2) Meets kindergarten standards for overhead light fixtures;
(3) Meets kindergarten standards for floors, walls, and ceilings; and
(4) Has floors, walls, and ceilings that are free from mold, mildew, and lead hazards.
A public school that voluntarily applies for a child care facility license shall meet all other requirements for child care facility licensure. (2009-123, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-523 - Care of school property.

§ 115C-523. Care of school property.
It shall be the duty of every teacher and principal in charge of school buildings to instruct the children in the proper care of public property, and it is their duty to exercise due care in the protection of school property against damage, either by defacement of the walls and doors or any breakage on the part of the pupils, and if they shall fail to exercise a reasonable care in the protection of property during the day, they may be held financially responsible for all such damage, and if the damage is due to carelessness or negligence on the part of the teachers or principal, the superintendent may hold those in charge of the building responsible for the damage, and if it is not repaired before the close of a term, a sufficient amount may be deducted from their final vouchers to repair the damage for which they are responsible.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the parents or legal guardians of any minor are liable for any gross negligence or willful damage or destruction of school property by that minor to the extent of five thousand dollars ($5,000). The Board of Education shall make written demand upon the parent or legal guardian as a prerequisite to bringing suit.
It shall be the duty of all principals to report immediately to their respective superintendents any unsanitary condition, damage to school property or needed repair. (1955, c. 1372, art. 17, s. 7; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985, c. 581, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-523.1 - Duty to insure public school property.

§ 115C-523.1. Duty to insure public school property.
(a) The local board of education of every local school administrative unit in the public school system of this State, in order to safeguard the investment made in public schools, shall:
(1) Insure and keep insured to the extent of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the current insurable value, as determined by the insurer and the insured, of each of its insurable buildings against the perils embraced in broad form coverage to include fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, explosion, aircraft or vehicles, riot or civil commotion, smoke, vandalism, sprinkler leakage, sinkhole collapse, volcanic action, falling objects, weight of snow, ice or sleet, or water damage.
(2) Insure and keep insured adequately the equipment and contents of the building.
(3) Provide to the Commissioner of Insurance a list of all of its insurable buildings, the equipment and contents of the buildings, and their insurable values by October 1 of each year.
(b) The tax-levying authority for each local school administrative unit shall appropriate funds necessary for compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Local boards of education may purchase insurance from companies duly licensed and authorized to sell insurance in this State or may obtain insurance in accordance with the provisions of Article 31A of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes, "State Insurance of Public Education Property." If a local board of education purchases insurance from a company duly licensed and authorized to sell insurance in this State for any insurable building, its equipment, or its contents, the local board of education shall provide the Commissioner with a copy of the policy of insurance. If the policy of insurance is cancelled, terminated, or changed for any reason, the local board of education shall notify the Commissioner within five days of the effective date of the cancellation, termination, or change.
(d) If the Commissioner of Insurance determines that any person has willfully failed to comply with the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the Commissioner of Insurance may order, for each separate violation, a civil penalty under the procedures in G.S. 58-2-70(d). Every 24 hours without such insurance constitutes a separate violation. (2019-176, s. 1(a); 2022-46, s. 6(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-523.2 - Flood insurance.

§ 115C-523.2. Flood insurance.
(a) The local board of education of every local school administrative unit in the public school system of this State, in order to safeguard the investment made in public schools, shall insure and keep insured to the extent of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the current insurable value, as determined by the insurer and the insured, of each of its insurable buildings against flood when that property is located, or becomes located in, an area identified on the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as area that will be inundated by the flood event having a one percent (1%) chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The local board of education shall provide to the Commissioner of Insurance a list of all of its insurable buildings against flood and their insurable values by October 1 of each year.
(b) The tax-levying authority for each local school administrative unit shall appropriate funds necessary for compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Local boards of education may purchase insurance from companies duly licensed and authorized to sell insurance in this State or may obtain insurance in accordance with the provisions of Article 31A of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes, "State Insurance of Public Education Property." If a local board of education purchases insurance from a company duly licensed and authorized to sell insurance in this State for any insurable building against flood, the local board of education shall provide the Commissioner with a copy of the policy of insurance. If the policy of insurance is cancelled, terminated, or changed for any reason, the local board of education shall notify the Commissioner within five days of the effective date of the cancellation, termination, or change.
(d) If the Commissioner of Insurance determines that any person has willfully failed to comply with the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the Commissioner of Insurance may order, for each separate violation, a civil penalty under the procedures in G.S. 58-2-70(d). Every 24 hours without such insurance constitutes a separate violation. (2019-176, s. 1(b); 2022-46, s. 6(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-524 - Repair of school property; use of buildings for other than school purposes.

§ 115C-524. Repair of school property; use of buildings for other than school purposes.
(a) Repair of school buildings is subject to the provisions of G.S. 115C-521(c) and (d).
(a1) Local boards of education may employ personnel who are licensed to perform maintenance and repairs on school property for plumbing, heating, and fire sprinklers pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 87 of the General Statutes, or personnel who are licensed as electrical contractors pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 87 of the General Statutes.
(b) It shall be the duty of local boards of education and tax-levying authorities, in order to safeguard the investment made in public schools, to keep all school buildings in good repair to the end that all public school property shall be taken care of and be at all times in proper condition for use. It shall be the duty of all principals, teachers, and janitors to report to their respective boards of education immediately any unsanitary condition, damage to school property, or needed repair. All principals, teachers, and janitors shall be held responsible for the safekeeping of the buildings during the school session and all breakage and damage shall be repaired by those responsible for same, and where any principal or teacher shall permit damage to the public school buildings by lack of proper discipline of pupils, such principal or teacher shall be held responsible for such damage: Provided, principals and teachers shall not be held responsible for damage that they could not have prevented by reasonable supervision in the performance of their duties.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 115C-263 and 115C-264, local boards of education may adopt rules and regulations under which they may enter into agreements permitting non-school groups to use school real and personal property, except for school buses, for other than school purposes so long as such use is consistent with the proper preservation and care of the public school property. No liability shall attach to any board of education or to any individual board member for personal injury suffered by reason of the use of such school property pursuant to such agreements.
(d) Local boards of education may make outdoor school property available to the public for recreational purposes, subject to any terms and conditions each board deems appropriate, (i) when not otherwise being used for school purposes and (ii) so long as such use is consistent with the proper preservation and care of the outdoor school property. No liability shall attach to any board of education or to any individual board member for personal injury suffered by reason of the use of such school property. (1955, c. 1372, art. 15, s. 9; 1957, c. 684; 1963, c. 253; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 23; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 900, s. 79(a); 2015-64, s. 1; 2016-105, s. 4; 2019-78, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-526 - Reward for information leading to arrest of persons damaging school property.

§ 115C-526. Reward for information leading to arrest of persons damaging school property.
Local boards of education are authorized and empowered to offer and pay rewards in an amount not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300.00) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any persons who willfully deface, damage, destroy or commit acts of vandalism or larceny of, the property belonging to the public school system under the jurisdiction of and administered by any local board of education. (1967, c. 369; 1973, c. 1216; 1975, c. 437, s. 7; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-527 - Use of schools and other public buildings for political meetings.

§ 115C-527. Use of schools and other public buildings for political meetings.
The governing authority having control over schools or other public buildings which have facilities for group meetings, or where polling places are located, is hereby authorized and directed to permit the use of such buildings without charge, except custodial and utility fees, by political parties, as defined in G.S. 163-96, for the express purpose of annual or biennial precinct meetings and county and district conventions: Provided, that the use of such buildings by political parties shall not be permitted at times when school is in session or which would interfere with normal school activities or functions normally carried on in such school buildings, and such use shall be subject to reasonable rules and regulations of the school boards and other governing authorities. (1975, c. 465; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1983, c. 519, ss. 1, 2; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-529 - Useful life guidelines.

§ 115C-529. Useful life guidelines.
The Department of Information Technology shall develop and annually revise guidelines for determining the useful life of computers purchased under G.S. 115C-528. The Division of Purchase and Contract shall develop and periodically revise guidelines for determining the useful life of automobiles, school buses, and photocopiers purchased under G.S. 115C-528. The Local Government Commission shall develop and periodically revise guidelines for determining the useful life of mobile classroom units purchased under G.S. 115C-528. Guidelines for computers and photocopiers shall include provisions for upgrades during the term of the contract. The Department of Information Technology, the Division of Purchase and Contract, and the Local Government Commission shall provide their respective guidelines to the State Board of Education by November 1, 1996. The State Board of Education shall provide the guidelines to local boards of education by January 1, 1997. (1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 716, s. 15; 2004-129, s. 34; 2015-241, s. 7A.4(i).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 37 - School Sites and Property. › § 115C-530 - Operational leases of school buildings and school facilities.

§ 115C-530. Operational leases of school buildings and school facilities.
(a) Local boards of education may enter into operational leases of real or personal property for use as school buildings or school facilities. Operational leases for terms of less than three years shall not be subject to the approval of the board of county commissioners. Operational leases for terms of three years or longer, including periods that may be added to the original term through the exercise of options to renew or extend, are permitted if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The budget resolution includes an appropriation authorizing the current fiscal year's portion of the obligation.
(2) An unencumbered balance remains in the appropriation sufficient to pay in the current fiscal year the sums obligated by the lease for the current fiscal year.
(3) The leases are approved by a resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners. If an operational lease is approved by the board of county commissioners, in each year the county commissioners shall appropriate sufficient funds to meet the amounts to be paid during the fiscal year under the lease.
(4) Any construction, repair, or renovation of the property is in compliance with the requirements of G.S. 115C-521(c) relating to energy guidelines.
For purposes of this section, an operational lease is defined according to generally accepted accounting principles and may be for new or existing buildings.
(b) Local boards of education may enter into contracts for the construction, repair, or renovation of leased property if (i) the budget resolution includes an appropriation authorizing the obligation, (ii) an unencumbered balance remains in the appropriation sufficient to pay in the current fiscal year the sums obligated by the transaction for the current fiscal year, and (iii) the construction, repair, or renovation is in compliance with the requirements of G.S. 115C-521(c) relating to energy guidelines. Construction, repair, or renovation work undertaken or contracted by a private developer is subject to the requirements of Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. Contracts for new construction and renovation that are subject to the bidding requirements of G.S. 143-129(a) and which do not constitute continuing contracts for capital outlay must be approved by the board of county commissioners.
(c) Operational leases and contracts entered into under this section are subject to approval by the Local Government Commission under Article 8 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes if they meet the standards set out in G.S. 159-148(a)(1), 159-148(a)(2), and 159-148(a)(3). For purposes of determining whether the standards set out in G.S. 159-148(a)(3) have been met, only the five hundred thousand dollar ($500,000) threshold shall apply. (1997-236, s. 2; 2010-196, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 38A - Public School Building Capital Fund. › § 115C-546.1 - Creation of Fund; administration.

§ 115C-546.1. Creation of Fund; administration.
(a) There is created the Public School Building Capital Fund. The Fund shall be used to assist county governments in meeting their public school building capital needs.
(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-316, s. 2.4(a), effective July 23, 2013.
(c) The Fund shall be administered by the Department of Public Instruction. (1987, c. 622, s. 12; c. 813, s. 20; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1066, s. 28(b); 1991, c. 689, s. 260; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 631, s. 15; 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess. c. 13, s. 2.2; 1997-221, s. 26; 2000-140, s. 93.1(a); 2001-424, s. 12.2(b); 2003-284, s. 7.33(b); 2013-316, s. 2.4(a); 2013-360, s. 6.11(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 38B - Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund. › § 115C-546.10 - Fund created; purpose; prioritization.

§ 115C-546.10. Fund created; purpose; prioritization.
There is created the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund as an interest-bearing, nonreverting special fund in the Department of Public Instruction. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund and shall invest its assets in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 147-69.2 and G.S. 147-69.3. The Department of Public Instruction shall award grants from the Fund to counties to assist with their critical public school building capital needs in accordance with the following priorities:
(1) Counties designated as development tier one areas.
(2) Counties with greater need and less ability to generate sales tax and property tax revenue.
(3) Counties with a high debt-to-tax revenue ratio.
(4) The extent to which a project will address critical deficiencies in adequately serving the current and future student population.
(5) Projects with new construction or complete renovation of existing facilities.
(6) Projects that will consolidate two or more schools into one new facility.
(7) Counties that have not received a grant under this Article in the previous three years. (2021-180, s. 4.4(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 38B - Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund. › § 115C-546.12 - Grant agreement; requirements.

§ 115C-546.12. Grant agreement; requirements.
A county receiving grant funds pursuant to this Article shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Public Instruction detailing the use of grant funds. The agreement shall contain at least all of the following:
(1) A requirement that the grantee seek planning assistance and plan review from the School Planning Section of the Department of Public Instruction.
(2) A progress payment provision governing disbursements to the county for the duration of the school construction project based upon the construction progress and documentation satisfactory to the Department that the matching requirement in G.S. 115C-546.11 has been met.
(3) A provision requiring periodic reports to the Department of Public Instruction on the use of disbursed grant funds and the progress of the school construction project.
(4) A requirement that matching funds paid by the county pursuant to G.S. 115C-546.11 must be derived from non-State and nonfederal funds. (2021-180, s. 4.4(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 38B - Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund. › § 115C-546.13 - Lease exception; requirements.

§ 115C-546.13. Lease exception; requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article to the contrary, a county may utilize grant funds for a lease agreement if all of the following criteria are met:
(1) Ownership of the subject property on which the leased school is constructed shall be retained by the county.
(2) The lease agreement shall include a repairs and maintenance provision that requires the landlord to bear the entire expense of all repairs, maintenance, alterations, or improvements to the basic structure, fixtures, appurtenances, and grounds of the subject property for the term of the lease.
(3) The lease agreement shall be for a term of at least 15 years and no more than 25 years.
(4) In lieu of the progress payment requirement provided in G.S. 115C-546.11(b), a county that has entered into a lease agreement shall provide a copy of the lease agreement to the Department of Public Instruction and shall be periodically reimbursed upon submission of documentation satisfactory to the Department that the matching requirement of this section has been met.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term "lease agreement" shall include any ancillary agreements or predevelopment agreements entered into in anticipation of or in accordance with a lease. A lease agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the requirements of Article 8 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes. In determining whether the lease agreement is necessary or expedient pursuant to G.S. 159-151(a)(1) and G.S. 159-151(b)(1), the Local Government Commission may consider any other relevant construction and financing methods available to the county. (2021-180, s. 4.4(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 38B - Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund. › § 115C-546.14 - Reporting.

§ 115C-546.14. Reporting.
(a) On or before April 1 of each year, a grant recipient shall submit to the Department of Public Instruction an annual report for the preceding year that describes the progress of the project for which the grant was received. The grant recipient shall submit a final report to the Department of Public Instruction within three months of the completion of the project.
(b) On or before May 1 of each year, the Department of Public Instruction shall submit a report to the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education/Higher Education, the chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Education, and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall contain at least all of the following information for the fiscal year:
(1) Number, description, and geographic distribution of projects awarded.
(2) Total cost of each project and amount supported by the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund.
(3) Projections for local school administrative unit capital needs for the next 30 years based upon present conditions and estimated demographic changes.
(4) Any legislative recommendations for improving the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund program. (2021-180, s. 4.4(a); 2022-74, s. 4.2(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 38C - Public School Building Repair and Renovation Fund. › § 115C-546.20 - Fund created; administration.

§ 115C-546.20. Fund created; administration.
There is created the Public School Building Repair and Renovation Fund. The Fund shall be administered by the Department of Public Instruction and shall be used to provide funds to counties for repair and renovation projects for local school administrative units within a county. (2021-180, s. 4.4(a1).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 38C - Public School Building Repair and Renovation Fund. › § 115C-546.21 - Fund disbursements; allowable uses.

§ 115C-546.21. Fund disbursements; allowable uses.
The Department of Public Instruction shall annually allocate all funds available from the Fund to each county in this State in equal amounts. Counties shall utilize funds received under this section for enlargement, improvement, expansion, repair, or renovation of classroom facilities at public school buildings within local school administrative units located in the county. Funds received under this section shall not be used for the retirement of indebtedness. As used in this section, "public school buildings" has the same meaning as in G.S. 115C-546.2(b). (2021-180, s. 4.4(a1).)