At the regular meeting held on June 12, the Moore County Board of Education decided not to decrease the frequency of their meetings.
During the discussion, Vice Chair David Hensley compared the board’s number of meetings with other institutions.
Sandhills Community College (SCC) had nine meetings last year. North Carolina State University had 12 meetings. Apple Computers had four meetings.
The Moore County School Board had 31 meetings last year.
Chair Robert Levy said the difference between Moore’s board and SCC Board of Trustees meetings was the students were adults.
“The number [of meetings] is not affected to transparency,” Hensley said about creating policy reports for the board’s review and consideration.
Hensley said the committees replace the need for the school board’s work sessions because committees create the reports for board review at regular meetings.
Member Shannon Davis said she was concerned the public would not attend the committee meetings, which are not recorded for those who cannot attend.
Member Stacy Caldwell said Lee and Harnett’s boards meet twice a month and align with Moore’s number of meetings.
Hensley replied to Caldwell that Lee County School Board had 19 meetings last year.
Member Pauline Bruno said her only worry was public perception about reducing the number of meetings.
The vote was six to one, with Hensley being the only support for reducing meetings.
In other business, Levy sent four items to committees for review. He sent the discussion on the role of school counselors and the removal of mandatory fees to the policy committee.
The safety and discipline committee will review comprehensive trauma and the reform of school police officers.
The safety and discipline committee will review a comprehensive trauma medical plan prepared by Deputy Superintendent Mike Metcalf and Director for Student Support Services Tracy Metcalf. The plan is viewable on the board’s website.
The plan shows that schools have 15.5 nursing staff, with one manager.
Schools plan on adding 24 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) by August, so there is an AED, along with first aid and bleed-control kits, within three minutes of any location. The five-year plan replaces 65 aging AEDs.
Nurses spend over 15 hours each year in training to renew certifications and learn new lifesaving procedures.
In August, staff, nurses, first responders, school resource officers, coaches and trainers will receive emergency response and de-escalation training.
The safety and discipline committee will review a report by Mike Metcalf and Chief of Police Rodney Hardy on reforming Moore County Schools Police.
School resource officer (SRO) body cameras have an annual cost of $1,700 to $3,500 per officer, not including storage.
Because N.C. General Statute 132-1.4A governs body camera footage from law enforcement, school personnel cannot view the recordings.
| Specialized Training of Current SRO Staff |
|
2 Certified Trainers for Rapid Deployment
2 Certified Trainers for Firearms
1 Graduate of the FBI National Academy
1 Certified Officer RADAR & RADAR Jr. (Including Forensic Interviewing/Child Death/Investigations/Gangs and Divisive Groups/ Interview & Interrogation)
2 Certified in Advanced SRO Training
Chief Hardy is certified in Advanced Crisis Intervention Training |
The plan recommends SROs receive further training on rapid deployment, de-escalation and marksmanship in August.
Law enforcement recommended gun safes at each school, rifles, ballistic shields, door breaching kits and walk-through metal detectors. Law enforcement also recommends metal detectors for Pinecrest, North Moore and Union Pines High schools.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel journalist Stephanie M. Sellers; BS Mass Communications and Journalism, MFA Creative Writing. Contact her at [email protected].
Photo via Moore County Schools.
