Policy committee moves to add emergency authority allowing members to convene superintendent on student‑safety issues

The Horry County School District Policy Committee voted Nov. 3 to incorporate new emergency‑action language into a draft governance policy that would allow board members to convene with the superintendent when student safety or legal compliance is at risk.

The committee discussed BSR Three at length and agreed to include the superintendent’s proposed wording: "In emergency situations where student safety or legal compliance is at risk, the board will immediately convene with the superintendent to ensure appropriate action is taken. If the superintendent fails to act, the board will exercise its authority as permitted by law." Superintendent Jones presented that language during discussion and committee members requested legal staff clarify whether "convene" requires the full board or a more limited convening process.

Why it matters: Committee members said the clarification is intended to remove ambiguity that could prevent a prompt response if a board member encounters an urgent safety or compliance issue during a school visit. Several members said the draft’s original use of the word "evaluate" could be read to delay action.

Committee action and next steps: The committee approved forwarding the amended draft for legal review and asked Superintendent Jones to place the revised BSR Three on the January meeting agenda for final consideration and recommendation to the full board. The recommendation as discussed would empower board members to initiate an immediate convening focused on student safety while preserving legal guardrails for staff direction.

What speakers said: Superintendent Jones summarized the proposed addition and emphasized staff accountability, saying the language "assures that appropriate action is taken" in emergencies. Multiple committee members urged clearer drafting to avoid implying a mandatory full‑board emergency meeting: one member suggested inserting language to make clear that a "board member will convene with the superintendent" or that the chair may call a formal convening.

Background: The item was part of a batch of policy reviews the committee said it has been revisiting throughout the school year. Members noted that some governance language borrows from standard "coherent governance" models and that earlier work on board values (GC‑1) has not been formally adopted, which may require future alignment.

The committee did not take a final adoption vote; instead it approved incorporating the emergency wording and returning the revised draft for legal placement and January consideration.