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Cary CCSD 26 board unanimously approves safe-zone resolution, policy-review process and routine consent items
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting the Cary CCSD 26 Board of Education approved a 'safe zone' resolution affirming FERPA protections, a schedule to review the district's PRESS policy manual chapter by chapter, and a consent agenda including bills and payroll totaling $2,026,396.64; the board moved one staffing-plan item to February.
The Cary CCSD 26 Board of Education voted unanimously on Jan. 27 to adopt a resolution declaring the district a "safe zone" for students, to accept a process to review the district's PRESS policy manual in staged chapters, and to approve routine consent items including bills and payroll.
Superintendent Dr. White read the core language of the resolution before the vote: "...the board declares the district to be a safe zone for its students, meaning that the district is a place for students to learn, to thrive, and to seek assistance..." He said the resolution reaffirms district adherence to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the district's obligation to provide free public K–12 education to students in its attendance area. The board approved the resolution by a roll-call vote: Dee Darling, Julie Jetty, Catherine Potter, Jason Jansick, Mindy Hartman, Anne Santucci and Stacy Salt all voted yes.
The board also approved a process to review the PRESS policy pending-adoption manual, a document developed with input from a PRESS representative, Nick Baumann, and from a district policy committee. The motion, which the board approved unanimously, directs the district to bring policy chapters forward for review beginning in March and continuing monthly so the board can consider each chapter individually.
On the consent agenda the board approved several routine items and payroll; the board secretary noted total bills and payroll of $2,026,396.64. Board Member Dee Darling asked to remove item 7.8 (the 2025–26 staffing plan) from the consent agenda so it can be returned for discussion in February; that removal was approved and the remaining consent items (7.1 minutes, 7.2 bills and payroll, 7.3 treasurer's report, 7.4 resignations/dismissals/retirements, 7.5 employment, 7.6 destruction of closed meeting audio, 7.7 disposal of assets, and 7.9 registration fees) were approved by roll call with all members voting yes.
During public participation Stephanie Schwall asked whether the agenda's registration-fee section listed a 3.5 percent tax-levy figure or 5 percent and pointed to an $18,700 line item for tuition to Woodstock School on the monthly bills PDF. A staff member (not identified by name in the public minutes) explained that property tax levies are calculated using the December Consumer Price Index figure and described how that figure affects the percentage. The board did not provide a further explanation of the Woodstock School tuition line item during the meeting; the transcript does not specify the purpose of the $18,700 payment.
Vote details - Removal of item 7.8 (2025–26 staffing plan): motion by Dee Darling; second not specified; outcome: approved (moved to February). - Approval of consent items 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7 and 7.9: motion moved and seconded (names not specified in motion language); roll-call yes votes from Stacy Salt, Dee Darling, Julie Jetty, Catherine Potter, Jason Jansick, Mindy Hartman and Anne Santucci; outcome: approved. Total bills/payroll: $2,026,396.64. - Safe Zone Resolution: motion moved and seconded (names not specified in motion language); roll-call yes votes from Dee Darling, Julie Jetty, Catherine Potter, Jason Jansick, Mindy Hartman, Anne Santucci and Stacy Salt; outcome: approved. - Approval of PRESS policy pending adoption manual: motion moved and seconded (names not specified in motion language); roll-call unanimous yes; outcome: approved.
Board members and staff framed the policy manual process as a chapter-by-chapter review that will make future updates easier to manage. Board Member Julie Jetty and others praised the policy committee's work. Dr. White said the manual and internal procedures related to the safe-zone resolution are available online for the public to review.
Public comments that raised budget items—specifically the Woodstock School tuition line in the bills—were not resolved during the meeting and require follow-up for the invoice purpose and accounting classification.
