Board approves consent agenda despite two votes of opposition over police chief promotion

The Moore County Schools Board of Education approved its consent agenda Jan. 12 despite public disagreement from two members who said a personnel promotion on the consent agenda had not been subject to open competition.

Board member Mister Hensley said he would vote against the entire consent agenda because it included promoting the interim school police chief to permanent chief without interviewing other candidates. "This is being done without conducting interviews," Hensley said. He said past controversies involving the school police had not been resolved and that the incoming superintendent should have input on the hire.

Board members discussed procedural options for removing items from the consent agenda; Mister Johnson noted any board member may propose pulling an item and that the new consent-agenda policy requires three members to join to remove an item. Hensley said he had been out of the country and became aware of the personnel action while in closed session.

Several members said the promotion had been included under existing personnel procedures and that they supported the superintendent's recommendation. After discussion the board voted to approve the consent agenda; the chair announced the motion passed 5–2.

The record shows the opposition in the vote and the discussion over whether consent-agenda procedure limits a member's opportunity to seek separate consideration. The board did not take separate roll-call votes on the personnel promotion during the open meeting beyond the consent-agenda tally.