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Board discusses districtwide cell-phone policy and hears public comments about a personnel action
Summary
A board member raised parent concerns about student cell-phone use; the board agreed to collect principal feedback and have staff and legal counsel draft policy options. During public input a resident invoked North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11 regarding a personnel removal; the board’s counsel described closed-session recordkeeping and the board moved to closed session.
A board member raised emails from parents and teachers about classroom cell-phone distractions and asked the board to consider a districtwide policy. The chair said administrators found the issue a problem and that a unified board policy could give principals more support.
"When the board adopts a policy, I think it sends a message," one board member said, urging a consistent approach across schools. Members discussed logistics — whether phones should be stored in backpacks, in classroom slots, or handled through discipline procedures — and agreed to gather principal input and work with Mr. Fagan to draft policy options. No policy was adopted at this meeting; staff will return with recommended language.
During public input, Richard Stitch, who signed up to speak, raised concerns about a personnel removal handled in closed session and cited North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11, which governs open meeting requirements for certain personnel actions. He asked the board to take a public vote rather than completing the action solely in closed session.
Board counsel responded that closed-session determinations must be reflected in the closed-session minutes and that the procedures cited govern certain hiring and removal actions; counsel and staff noted the board will follow statutory processes and that records can be requested. The board then voted to move into closed session for personnel and attorney-client matters.
No further public action on the personnel matter occurred in open session at this meeting.
