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Committee keeps public-participation policy unchanged after debate on enforcement language
Summary
After discussion about a recent court ruling and whether to require warnings before law-enforcement removal, the policy committee voted 2–1 to leave Policy 2310 as drafted and to not add the proposed warning-language in the policy.
The New Hanover County Schools policy committee reviewed proposed additions to Policy 2310 governing public participation and declined to add a warning requirement for law-enforcement removal, voting to leave the policy as currently drafted.
Mr. Blanchard summarized recent court decisions relevant to public-comment rules, citing a Loudoun County case and Fourth Circuit guidance and warning that courts may restrict the government’s ability to remove speakers when speech is involved. He told the committee that the existing "content neutral" limits on banners and placards remain defensible but warned against drafting policy language that might contradict court rulings.
David Perry and other members urged caution but argued for at least one warning in many speech-related disruptions. Perry said a law-enforcement officer who "acts on their own initiative to remove individuals" could create inconsistency, and he recommended clearer, consistent expectations about warnings for non-physical disruptions.
Judy Justice moved to leave the policy unchanged; the motion carried on a voice vote recorded in the transcript as 2–1. Committee members noted that law-enforcement officers ultimately act under sheriff or departmental policies and that district policy should avoid unnecessarily constraining professional discretion while still protecting speakers’ rights.
