Board dissolves Title IX committee, keeps biannual director review after heated discussion

The New Hanover County Schools Board of Education voted 5–2 to dissolve its Title IX board committee and instead require a biannual report from the Title IX director, the board decided after a lengthy discussion about committee workload and community trust.

At the meeting, several board members and community partners urged continued public oversight. “This committee was put together because there was a need,” board member Judy Justice said, arguing the district still needed a public forum to review Title IX issues and to build community trust. Other board members said the committee had met infrequently and that a shift to a regular director report would conserve staff and community volunteers’ time while keeping elected members informed.

The board considered an amendment to preserve an advisory body led by the Title IX director; that amendment failed on a roll call. A subsequent roll call on dissolving the standing committee and requiring a biannual review passed 5–2. The meeting transcript recorded the roll call showing support from several members and opposition from others; board staff will continue Title IX work and will deliver the required reports to the full board.

Board members said the change is intended to preserve oversight but reduce committee meeting obligations. The Title IX director, represented in the discussion, described prior work that the committee had undertaken, including policy development and training efforts.

The board instructed staff to schedule the director’s report twice per year to the full board. The action dissolves the standing Title IX committee but does not change investigative responsibilities or confidentiality protections for individual cases.

The decision passed after public and board debate about the committee’s role, community engagement and the balance between transparency and confidentiality in investigations.