New Hanover County Board removes member from committees after alleged closed‑session leak

At a special meeting of the New Hanover County Board of Education, members voted to remove board member David Perry from committee assignments and other board privileges for four months after allegations that he disclosed confidential closed‑session information about a parent's discretionary assignment appeal.

The action followed hours of discussion about alleged breaches of Policy 2120 (Board Member Code of Ethics) and a lawyer‑read FERPA release. The motion to instruct the chair to remove Perry from committee duties passed 5‑2. A later motion to formally censure Perry failed 4‑3.

The meeting opened with attorneys saying the board had received a FERPA release from Vanessa Sutton and Chris Sutton. Board counsel Michael Krompke read the release aloud and told members the document allowed certain discussion about the Suttons’ lottery application and communications with New Hanover County Schools, but later clarified that the release did not authorize disclosure of how individual board members voted. Krompke said, "that release was very specific. I can't help you with…