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Board narrows legislative committee’s charge, sets biannual meetings to craft district legislative agenda
Summary
The board voted 7–0 to direct the legislative committee to compile a district legislative agenda in coordination with staff and to meet twice per year to review that agenda; amendments to policy will be prepared.
The New Hanover County Schools Board on April 16 revised the scope and meeting frequency of its legislative committee, directing the committee to coordinate with staff to develop an annual legislative agenda and to meet twice a year.
Board members said the legislative committee’s most valuable work has been creating a unified advocacy agenda to use when meeting elected officials and seeking district funding. Josie Barnhart, who chairs the legislative committee, said the committee helped create the district’s legislative agenda and has explored hosting networking events and other advocacy efforts.
After debate over scope — whether the committee should focus solely on financial advocacy or take a wider legislative role — the board adopted an amendment setting the committee to meet twice annually and to focus on compiling the legislative agenda in coordination with district staff. Several board members emphasized that all seven elected board members retain individual ability to advocate with county and state officials; the committee’s role is to produce a coordinated district position for formal advocacy.
The motion to set the committee’s charge and meeting frequency passed 7–0. Policy staff will be asked to update the committee description and return a redraft to the board for adoption.
Ending: The legislative committee will continue as the board’s mechanism to produce a formal advocacy agenda, meeting at least twice per year and coordinating closely with staff; the board asked policy to prepare updated language for review.
