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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFINAL June 22, 2023 Schools Safety Task Force Meeting Summary FINAL NOT APPROVED BY TASK FORCE DUE TO NO ADDITIONAL MEETINGS Orange County Schools Safety Task Force Meeting Summary Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 5:30 PM Donna S. Baker Meeting Room Whitted Human Services Center 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC Members Present: Ari Schein, Kate O'Boyle, Richard Bradford, Evan Sredzienski, Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee, Tina Sykes, Chris Atack, Paul Bell, Andy Simmons Alternates Present: Tracy Holloway, Andre Stewart, Andrew Poole Members Absent: Cassie Rice, Evelyn Estrada Hernandez, Rani Dasi, Nyah Hamlett, Andre Richmond, Monique Felder Alternates Absent: George Griffin, Jonathan McVey, Lee Williams II (Note: Student members from Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools had not yet been determined.) Facilitator: Jay Bryan, Retired District Court Judge Staff Present: Greg Wilder from the Orange County Manager's Office There were also approximately two members of the public present at the meeting. 1. Welcome and Introductions Commissioner and Task Force Co-Chair Jean Hamilton welcomed everyone to the meeting. Co-Chair Hamilton shared that Commissioner and Co-Chair Earl McKee had encountered a delay and would be arriving later at the meeting. 2. Approval of April 27, 2023 Meeting Summary Co-Chair Hamilton noted that approval of the April 27, 2023 Meeting Summary had been tabled at the May 25, 2023 Task Force meeting based on a concern regarding whether one section of the summary appropriately reflected comments made by County Attorney John Roberts at the April 27t" meeting. Co-Chair Hamilton stated that the Summary as originally drafted was shared with Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Roberts had confirmed that the Summary accurately reflected his comments. Task Force Member Richard Bradford z stated that he thought one of Mr. Roberts' statements was incorrect based on his reading of the North Carolina General Statutes. Co-Chair Hamilton noted that follow-up would occur on that uncertainty. With confirmation that the Meeting Summary accurately reflected Mr. Roberts' comments at the meeting, Task Force Member Andy Simmons made a motion to approve the April 27, 2023 Meeting Summary as included in the meeting agenda package. Task Force Alternate Tracy Holloway seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 3. Approval of May 25, 2023 Meeting Summary Co-Chair Hamilton asked if there were any changes to the May 25, 2023 Meeting Summary that was distributed with the meeting agenda materials. With no changes, Task Force Member Bradford motioned to approve the Meeting Summary. Task Force Member Ari Schein seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 4. Discussion on Draft Task Force Final Report/Recommendations Document Co-Chair Hamilton directed the Task Force members to the Draft Task Force Final Report included in the meeting agenda package. She asked if there were any comments, changes or suggestions for the Report. Task Force Member Bradford noted a correction for "right-a-ways" to "right-of-ways" on page 3. He also suggested that the Tinker case be referenced as part of UNC Law Professor Mary-Rose Papandrea's contributions to the Task Force. He further noted the need to address the "students (?)" notation in Recommendation #2 on page 7, and suggested the word "identified" replace "defined" in Recommendation #3. Greg Wilder noted a date correction of May 25, 2023, rather than May 11 , 2023, on page 4. Mr. Wilder also suggested potentially removing the names of individuals who had not attended any Task Force meetings from the Report cover page. Task Force Member Schein asked about the need for specificity in the Report. Task Force Member Bradford responded that there probably was not substantial value to being specific. Co-Chair Hamilton noted that the Report recommendations were going to the Board of Commissioners, with the Board then encouraging the boards of education and the other safety leaders throughout the County to pursue various efforts, and that a general framework was probably more helpful. Task Force Member Kate O'Boyle asked about Recommendation #3 and the boundaries of each school in the school districts being "understood". Task Force Member Simmons noted that school boundaries are public record for everyone to review. Co-Chair Hamilton added that school officials should potentially decide how to best make everyone aware of the school boundaries. Task Force Member Simmons commented that schools could 3 utilize a surveyor to clearly mark the boundaries, but that it would have a definite expense. He noted, though, that Orange High School was the only school with current boundary uncertainties. Task Force Alternate Andre Stewart shared that school boundaries were not as much a problem for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). The public being on school property after school hours was a greater concern for CHCCS. Co-Chair Hamilton noted that the Task Force did not need to focus on answers to concerns and asked if there were other potential revisions to the Draft Report. Task Force Member Schein asked if "school" would be better termed as "school staff" in Recommendation #3. A general discussion regarding Recommendation #6 occurred, with the suggestion that "counselor/mentor for students and for protecting them" be removed and that the language reference sharing information with all stakeholders. Task Force Alternate Stewart inquired whether Recommendation #7 provided for survey data to come from other survey activities and not just from safety-specific surveys. Co- Chair Hamilton responded that the interest was to be broad with the sources of information and the Recommendations. It was noted that current larger surveys conducted by the schools do include multiple safety and safety perception questions. 5. Consideration of Potential Changes to Draft Task Force Final Report/Recommendations Document Co-Chair Hamilton asked if there were any other potential modifications to the Report for consideration. With no additional items raised, Mr. Wilder utilized the presentation podium and visual monitors to scroll through the Draft Report and summarize the areas proposed for revision. He referenced the potential deletion of non-attendees from the cover page, the change to "right-of-ways", the May 11 to May 25 date correction, and the revisions discussed for Recommendations 2, 3 and 6. Mr. Wilder noted that he was temporarily setting aside in the summary the proposed update related for the Tinker case for more Task Force clarification on that potential revision. Task Force members discussed Recommendation #6 and determined the language should read, "The roles of SROs, teachers, and staff be clearly communicated among all stakeholders." Task Force Member Bradford noted that the reference to "(NCGS 115C.105.49)" had a typo that needed correcting. Task Force Member Bradford further suggested that, to address the proposed "Tinker" addition, the phrase "(Tinker v. Des Moines)" be inserted into the partial paragraph at the top of page 6. 4 Task Force Alternate Holloway inquired about Recommendation #8 and the applicability to both school districts. Task Force Member Simmons noted the need for common language across the county for all jurisdictions and entities and the need to make sure everyone uses the same language. Task Force Alternate Stewart noted that this could potentially be accomplished through the existing quarterly meetings that occur between the school staff, law enforcement, emergency management and others. Co-Chair Hamilton commented that this effort could be moved forward by the Board of Commissioners through collaboration meetings with school board leaders and potentially with funding, and that it would need the schools and law enforcement to collaborate to occur. Task Force Member Schein noted that this issue was important as many misunderstood the terms being used, and as an example, he referenced the terms "lockdown" versus "lockout". The group then discussed the use of the term "law enforcement" in Recommendation #8, with the suggestion to replace the term with "first responders". It was agreed that "first responders" was more appropriate. 6. Approval of Task Force Final Report With no other proposed revisions to the Draft Report, and following a summary of the proposed revisions, Co-Chair Hamilton asked for a motion to approve the Report as final with the revisions as discussed and to allow the Co-Chairs and staff to make any typographical or other minor corrections that may identified. Task Force Member Simmons motioned to approve the Report as stated by Co-Chair Hamilton. Task Force Alternate Stewart seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. Co-Chair Hamilton expressed her appreciation to the Task Force members and shared that the Report would be provided to the Board of Commissioners. She referenced the annual meeting on school safety that had been previously discussed. Task Force Member Simmons noted the need to include emergency management leaders in future meetings and discussions. Co-Chair Earl McKee also expressed his thanks to the Task Force members for their work and commitment of time, and noted that the Report will likely be formally received and discussed by the Board of Commissioners in September 2023. 7. Other Issues There were no other issues discussed. 8. Task Force Evaluation 5 Task Force members expressed appreciation for each other's work and the work by the Co-Chairs and staff. Adjourn With no further items to discuss, the Task Force adjourned at 6:50 pm. This Final Meeting Summary was NOT approved. This June 22, 2023 meeting was the last meeting of the Task Force, and there were no additional opportunities for the Task Force to approve this Summary.