Craven board pulls Policy 3,400 from consent, schedules first read for December

The Craven County Board of Education on Nov. 20 removed Policy 3,400 (Evaluation of Student Progress) from its consent agenda and directed staff and principals to review the draft language before a first reading at the board’s December work session.

Board member Stacy asked the board to take Policy 3,400 off consent after consulting with staff and principals, citing recent state board draft language that would limit when a “force fail” could be used. Stacy summarized the draft language as saying that a “force fail may only be used for a student who does not have a passing grade based on content and also has significant absences based on local board policy,” adding that the draft also included a sentence stating a student may not fail a course based solely on attendance.

“...we have made huge strides toward ensuring that our students are in attendance,” Stacy said, explaining why local high school principals should have an opportunity to consider how the district’s policy should read. The presiding officer agreed to move the item to a December work session first read so principals and administrators could review and recommend local language.

Procedural votes: The board voted 7–0 to accept the meeting agenda with Policy 3,400 removed from the consent agenda and later approved the consent agenda as presented, excluding Policy 3,400. The board also approved minutes from prior meetings and several closed-session minutes by unanimous votes during the Nov. 20 meeting.

The board briefly moved into closed session to discuss personnel matters and to consult with the attorney; that closed session was taken in accordance with the agenda item announced on the record.