The Guilford County Board of Education is reviewing proposed changes to the way Guilford County Schools (GCS) accepts and uses donations made both to the district and to individual schools. The changes are designed to simplify the rules and procedures by creating two separate policies: one for contributions toward capital projects and one for general donations.

The new proposed policy, ECKA, identifies two separate categories of capital projects, small scale and substantial. Small-scale projects would receive basic oversight by GCS but would not require any action from the Guilford County Board of Education. Projects deemed “substantial” by the superintendent would need final approval from the Board of Education, all funds donated to the project must be transferred to GCS and the project must be managed and directed by GCS staff.

Proposed changes to the current policy, ECK, include removing mentions of capital projects (since those would fall under the new ECKA) and affirming the right of GCS to refuse donations that don’t align with district standards or school/district priorities.

The board voted to open a 30-day public-comment period on the proposed changes. Comments on the policy should be submitted to policies@gcsnc.com or via courier or U.S. mail to Policy Development, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, N.C. 27401. Comments will be accepted until Oct. 16.