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School board sends comprehensive health-and-safety curriculum policy back to policy committee after debate
Summary
The New Hanover County Schools board voted 6–1 to send proposed changes to the district’s comprehensive health and safety education policy (policy 35‑40) back to the policy committee for legal review and clearer language on opt‑in/opt‑out rules.
The New Hanover County Schools Board of Education on Tuesday voted 6–1 to send the proposed comprehensive health-and-safety education policy (policy 35‑40) back to the policy committee for further work and legal guidance.
Board members debated whether students should be automatically assigned to certain health curriculum lessons with a parental opt‑out in writing — language that board members said could be read as an opt‑out policy rather than the opt‑in approach some believed the board had previously approved. The district referenced General Statute 115C‑81,130 in discussion about parental withdrawal options for specified instruction.
“Parents or guardians of high‑school students shall receive a letter from their child's school stating that their child will automatically be assigned to the *** education portion of the curriculum,” a staff summary read aloud during the meeting, language several board members said required clarification.
Board member David Perry moved to send policy 35‑40 back to policy to obtain attorney advice and reconcile whether the curriculum will operate as opt‑in, opt‑out, or a hybrid that allows lesson‑level opt‑out after an initial opt‑in. A second was recorded; the motion passed 6–1.
Supporters of the referral said they wanted clearer wording so parents and staff could understand how families must consent or withdraw. Opponents said the board had previously discussed an opt‑in approach and that resubmitting the policy could delay implementation.
No final change to policy text was adopted at the meeting; board members instructed staff and the policy committee to return recommended language and any required statutory references to the full board at a future meeting.
The board’s action was taken during an agenda‑review session and is procedural: it directed additional work rather than adopting a policy change.
The discussion included related questions about whether individualized lesson accommodations would be feasible for classroom teachers and the operational burden if staff must implement lesson‑by‑lesson opt‑out requests.
The item will return to the policy committee and then to the full board for formal action after attorneys and staff prepare revised language and implementation guidance.
