06. Policy 2302, Remote Participation in Board Meetings

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Submitted by jenny_hunter on Fri, 05/15/2020 - 11:45am

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The North Carolina School Boards Association has issued a special policy update in response to Senate Bill 704, NC Session Law 2020-3, signed by Governor Cooper on May 4, 2020. A section of that legislation creates new G.S. 166A-19.24, which authorizes school boards and other public bodies to conduct remote meetings during emergencies declared by the Governor or General Assembly in accordance with certain statutory procedures. The law is effective immediately.

This update amends policy 2302, Remote Participation in Board Meetings, to comply with the new requirements. It also authorizes quasi-judicial hearings (i.e., student discipline hearings, employee grievances or dismissal hearings) to be conducted remotely. The revised policy is introduced as first-read information; however, Dr. Brian Weaver will recommend that the board temporarily suspend its normal two-meeting approval process and approve the policy at this time. Policy 2302 is attached.

Policy 2420, Adoption of Policies, states that policies introduced and recommended to the board will not be adopted until a subsequent meeting. It also states that temporary approval may be granted by the board in lieu of formal policy to meet emergency conditions. Policy 2450, Suspension of Board Policies, allows the temporary suspension of any section or sections of board policies by a majority vote of board members present at a meeting.

Pursuant to board policy 2450, a motion is in order to temporarily suspend the board’s normal policy adoption process as described in policy 2420 and approve policy 2302, Remote Participation in Board Meetings, as presented.

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