Once built, the modular units will provide additional classroom space to ease overcrowding, first at Pinecrest High School and then at the remaining two high schools.

Facilities Committee members will travel to Hoke county within the next two weeks to observe construction on modular units at neighboring county schools.

In other business:

-- The school system is working toward meeting the N.C. Board of Education Healthy Living policy.

All middle school students in the county will have at least one semester of physical education classes, and all elementary through middle school classes will have at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.

The county will follow the Eat Smart, Move More program recommendations from the state, until it reaches the highest rating, which will provide 150 minutes of health instruction for elementary students and 225 for middle, as well as the daily 30 minutes of exercise.

Access to vending machines will also be limited to younger students, and the machines now offer only baked goods with less than 200 calories per serving. French fries and other high-calorie, fatty foods have been limited in lunch lines.

But the biggest challenge schools face is offering meals that students and staff will eat that also meet federal and state nutrition guidelines, such as having less than 10 percent fat, said Amanda Cagle, executive supervisor for Child Nutrition.

-- Board members approved several discipline policies mandated by the state that must be on the books before the beginning of the traditional school year.

-- Charles McDowell, executive supervisor for transportation reported that county will get five new buses for the start of the year and 12 more in December, all of which will meet the new EPA emission requirements. Fortunately for students, the new additions to the bus fleet will be air-conditioned. With the new buses, almost one third of the fleet will be air-conditioned, McDowell said.

-- Prior to board meeting, the Facilities Committee agreed to begin putting together a timeline for finding funds for the 12-year, $143-million building plan.

Caroline Kornegay can be reached at 693-2484 or by e-mail at ckornegay@thepilot.com.