New Hanover board keeps ‘Stepping Stones’ core, removes four lessons and preserves opt‑in for family life instruction

At its March regular meeting the New Hanover County Board of Education approved a staff recommendation to combine sex‑education offerings into a single Family Life program, remove four lessons addressing gender roles and LGBTQ topics, and retain an opt‑in enrollment process for middle‑school students.

The action, moved by board member Pat Bradford and approved in a 5‑2 roll call, implements the change now rather than waiting for the next school year and asks the policy committee to review a packet of suggested policy edits from the North Carolina School Boards Association.

The vote follows weeks of public comment and staff review prompted by state and federal guidance on curriculum content. “We believe that there is value in the Stepping Stones program,” Superintendent Dr. Barnes told the board during the meeting as staff laid out their recommendations.

Why it matters: The board’s decision alters district classroom materials for…