Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents push for cameras in exceptional-children classrooms; board schedules work session
Summary
Caregivers urged the Swain County Board of Education to authorize safety cameras in exceptional-children classrooms, and the board agreed to schedule a publicly noticed work session and consult its attorney about legal and policy issues.
Jennifer Hewitt, a caregiver for three children who attend Swain County Schools, told the board she had submitted a petition asking the district to place safety cameras in exceptional-children (EC) classrooms.
"Cameras are not about punishing or mistrusting teachers," Hewitt said. "They're about protection, accountability, and peace of mind for students and educators alike." She asked that recordings be stored securely and accessed only by authorized administrators when concerns arise.
Courtney Dills, a community member, told the board the issue has drawn national attention and is the subject of a criminal investigation and asked the board to publicly review how reports involving vulnerable students are documented, investigated and escalated. "This community deserves a transparent review of how procedures were followed when allegations are reported," Dills said.
Board members acknowledged the community's concern and discussed options. The chair said the district has the technical capability to place cameras, but legal and policy constraints must be resolved before any deployment. The chair invited Ashley Leonard of the law firm Campbell Shatley, identified in the meeting as the district's legal counsel, to provide guidance. Leonard said she could answer questions or give legal advice in closed session under attorney-client privilege.
Rather than decide at the regular meeting, the board agreed to schedule an open work session within the next 10 business days to focus on classroom cameras and related policy issues; the chair said the session will be publicly noticed and widely publicized. The board also said it could meet in closed session if members wanted attorney advice on legal constraints before drafting policy options.
Next steps: the board will set and publicize a date for the work session and may request a closed attorney-client briefing to clarify legal and confidentiality limits before proposing any policy changes.
