Policy talks aim to balance public input at New Hanover Board of Education meetings

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover Board of Education wants to keep its public meetings from getting too heated or too lengthy, so it’s discussing policies to establish more control.

Policy 2310 is part of a series of policies covering the board and public access to information.

Specifically, 2310 deals with public comments at board meetings, especially when many people want to speak.

But board member Pat Bradford said when a large number of people want to speak, the board’s current policy already has a way to handle that situation.

“I don’t think the public realizes that it says in our policy: if an unusually large number of people requests to speak, a majority of the board may decide to request the designation of a spokesperson for each group or persons supporting or opposing the same positions,” Bradford said. “At any time, the board may establish additional procedures. So I think it’s interesting that we don’t, we don’t use that, but its in here.”

The board believes 2310 and 3 other policies need to be discussed together, which will happen at a later meeting.

Another policy discussed was policy 4351, which covers students’ rights pre-suspension, specifically, students age 8 and younger or in grade 3 and lower.

That policy was also tabled and will be discussed at a later date.