Lake Norman Charter board adds indemnity clause to bylaws after legal review, approves 2024 calendar

Lake Norman Charter’s board voted Nov. 5 to amend its bylaws to add an indemnity provision intended to protect board members, school officers and staff from legal claims arising while they act within the scope of their duties.

An unnamed speaker identified in the meeting as counsel summarized the recent Jenco case and read recommended language for the bylaws: "the school agrees that it shall defend, hold harmless and indemnify LNC staff of any and all demands, claims, suits, actions and legal proceedings brought against board members, school officers and staff in their individual and official capacities as an agent and or employee of Lake Norman Charter School, provided the incident arose while they were acting within the scope of their duties." The counsel said some board members named in that suit were dismissed and that two employees remain involved in ongoing proceedings.

Board leadership asked for questions, made a motion to approve the indemnity provision as amended, and the motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the public transcript. The chair said the bylaw language will be incorporated as an amendment and that counsel and staff would provide a closed‑session update on the case at the board’s December meeting.

The board also reviewed and approved the draft 2024 calendar as presented. The calendar keeps the school year beginning the second Thursday in August (Aug. 13), includes a longer Thanksgiving break, a two-week December break and aligns spring break with other local districts; the board noted there are no built-in snow days but that state rules allow remote-learning days for inclement weather.

The meeting concluded after the calendar vote and adoption of the indemnity amendment; board members were told more detailed updates on the ongoing legal matters will come in December.