Parent raises concerns over dress-code enforcement at Cleveland High during public comment

During the public-comment portion of the Johnston County Board of Education meeting, Crystal Potter, who identified herself as a parent of district students for 17 years, addressed the board about dress-code enforcement at Cleveland High School. Potter said she had not previously addressed the board and asked for the board——s consideration. Potter said she was "bothered" by how dress-code incidents were being handled and asserted that what she described as "a very small group of individuals" at Cleveland High were not being represented fairly and were being "targeted by staff and pulled out" of class. She asked the board to look into the matter. The board chair read the public-comment rules at the start of the session and indicated that personnel or student matters are typically addressed to the school principal or superintendent; the chair also reminded speakers that disruptive or obscene language is prohibited under state statute. No board action was recorded in response to Potter——s remarks during the meeting; the chair suggested that concerns involving specific personnel or students be raised with school leadership so the appropriate administrative follow-up can occur.