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Board narrows release-time policy, approves one hour per week limit for released students
Summary
After months of review and discussion of draft state legislation, the board amended Policy 42.10 to allow students to be excused for up to one hour per week for release-time programs; members said scheduling realities at elementary and middle schools make larger allowances unlikely to be used.
The Nash County Public Schools board amended Policy 42.10 — the district's release-of-students policy — changing the allowable time for student participation in release-time programs to one hour per week.
Policy language had previously authorized excused absence of no more than one class period per month. Policy staff returned the item after a committee review and discussion about draft state legislation, Senate Bill 92, that would have required boards to allow between one and five hours per week. The draft bill did not advance, but administrators asked the board to decide whether to adjust the district policy now.
Board members and staff debated practical scheduling impacts. Several members said elementary specials and middle/high school schedules make it difficult for students to be gone frequently without missing core instruction. One board member who had proposed a five-hours-per-week limit later rescinded that motion; the board ultimately adopted an amendment to set the cap at one hour per week and clarified that core classes such as math, reading, English, science, social studies and CTE would not be release-eligible.
A motion to amend section c.7 from "one class period per month" to "one hour per week" was moved, seconded and approved on a voice vote. The chair announced the motion carried.
Staff told the board that make-up work and attendance consequences would remain the responsibility of the parent and student and said principals would manage site-level scheduling under the policy parameters.
Board members also approved a number of minor policy cross-reference updates tied to NC SPAs (State Board of Education policy updates) for 2025; those changes were described as technical and were approved as a group.
