Board refers Protecting Our Students Act training rollout to committee amid opt‑in/opt‑out questions

District administration summarized the Protecting Our Students Act materials at the Dec. 3 Brunswick County Board of Education meeting and sought direction on how to notify parents and implement the required trainings for grades 6–12. The Center for Safe Schools produced student videos (middle and high school) and staff training modules, and administrators said the district has developed a training cycle for student‑services staff (school psychologists, social workers, counselors and behavior specialists) before building‑level rollout.

Administrators told the board that legal partners — including district counsel and outside firms — reviewed the materials and advised that either an opt‑in or opt‑out notification process could satisfy the statute, but that local school units should consult counsel to determine the most appropriate approach for their communities. The presentation noted the material can be triggering for some students and that staff would need support after viewing certain modules.

Board members emphasized the importance of doing the rollout correctly and suggested additional time for review. The board voted to refer the implementation plan and notification approach to committee for further examination rather than choosing an opt‑in or opt‑out model at the meeting.

No formal policy change was adopted at the Dec. 3 meeting; administration said it would continue principal and staff training and return with committee recommendations.