NHC Board of Education reprimands Perry without formal censure

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Board of Education held a special meeting Monday afternoon after a breach of confidentiality and policy by board member David Perry. 

Perry was not censured but the board did take action. 

Perry admits he shared information with a parent about an appeal involving their child.  

Fellow member Pat Bradford said this action violated board policy and confidentiality rules.  

The board debated whether to formally censure perry. Ultimately, they voted not to. But he was removed from ‘board privileges’ including committees for the next four months.  

“This was more or less what I expected, I had to keep telling myself over the last 24 hours to remain calm and there’s certain points during our meeting that I may have got a little animated but not enough to lose my cool because pretty much I expected that this was going to be a railroad job,” Perry said. 

Board member Judy Justice says actions speak louder than words.  

“Taking off all of the committees for four months is probably in truth more of a wake-up call to learn not to do these things again. Because censure is a word and the action of taking you off of committees which is a very important role. That does sting,” Justice noted. 

Chris Sutton is the parent who filed an appeal to get his son into year-round school.  

He says he doesn’t believe perry breached confidentiality. 

“They initially brought up a breach of confidentiality and that doesn’t stick, it’s not a breach of confidentiality to reach out to me and tell me that my appeal was going to be on a specific date and time. A violation of policy? Yes,” Sutton stated. 

During the meeting, Perry challenged the board’s actions asking the school districts attorneys about procedures outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order, questioning whether any action other than a censure required a formal disciplinary process.  

The one attorney admitted he was caught off guard.  

“Was completely surprised by the fact that our attorney’s couldn’t answer ‘The Robert’s Rule Question’ that was frustrating to me. They’re not abiding by our policy, I mean it’s not just once or twice. It’s a sham,” Sutton said. 

Sutton says some of the board members have known each other for a long time and he believes personal politics were brought into the decision.