Board seeks clarity after PCC email prompts concerns over supervision of dual-enrolled students

Caswell County Schools board members were briefed on supervision and scheduling challenges for high school students enrolled at Piedmont Community College under the College and Career Promise program, and asked staff to provide precise enrollment counts and clarify who may set policies after an advisory email to students caused parent concern.

District staff described a variety of student schedules — some students take 8‑week or 16‑week college courses, some take two‑block classes such as welding, and some are in associate‑degree pathways — and said the diversity of schedules created supervision gaps during lunch and non‑class blocks. “I want to kinda share that backdrop regarding the the Piedmont Community College process,” a district staff member told the board as background for the discussion.

Why it matters: Board members said they need clear rules so the district can account for students’ whereabouts and ensure safety when students leave campus for college classes. Several board members said an emailed notice, sent directly to students and described in the meeting, appeared to require students to remain at PCC until the start time of their next high‑school class; parents contacted the district after seeing that message.

District staff said they are investigating the notice and the underlying policy and that the high school is working to create an on‑campus “learning hub” where dual‑enrolled students can wait, study and meet with the college advisor so fewer students leave campus between classes. The staff member said the hub would give “a in between place so we can supervise them” and would allow students to use the campus for lunch and study time without leaving school property.

Board members asked for specific information and followup. One asked that staff “break it down to let us know how many kids fit PCC,” and several asked that counts be returned showing who is enrolled in which blocks so the district can plan supervision and space. Staff said counts fluctuate because some college courses run eight weeks while others run 16 weeks, and therefore they would provide updated breakdowns as schedules change.

On the college liaison and communications: the board identified Kaylee Oakley as the Piedmont Community College advisor who works with the district. Staff said Oakley performs registration for students and can contact parents if a student is having academic problems at the community college. Staff also reminded members that community college instructors treat dual‑enrolled students as college students; the district’s liaison role is intended to identify attendance or performance issues early and connect families with support.

On policy authority: board members questioned whether the college advisor could issue a notice that appeared to change a local practice. Staff said the district’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Piedmont Community College grants certain liaison access to registration and student information, but that any formal district policy about on‑campus supervision would need further review; staff said they would investigate whether the email represented a unilateral PCC policy change or a miscommunication under the MOU.

Board direction and next steps: the board asked staff to return with (1) specific counts of dual‑enrolled students by school and by block, (2) the district’s MOU language regarding the college liaison’s authority and access, and (3) proposed supervision options (including the planned learning hub) and any recommended written procedures for the remainder of the school year.

The board did not take formal action during the discussion; staff promised followup reporting at a future meeting.