[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6397523,"mediaKeyId","2092506-00a167ffd780231f54753344afee7623","parentId",2092506,"title","Board attorney outlines legal duties as Onslow County Board prepares superintendent search","audioSeconds",535,"startMs",2524000,"endMs",3059000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2092506-00a167ffd780231f54753344afee7623&start=2524&end=3059","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2092506-00a167ffd780231f54753344afee7623/thumbnail_2524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6397523/North-Carolina/Board-attorney-outlines-legal-duties-as-Onslow-County-Board-prepares-superintendent-search","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397523-960bd5ee4d1776b72ba0f888e5da601c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185075&Signature=C1SQUZYld1H1Al21Ue-epbBVztkL~nfTLMWKWbgAf8W~upxDVhYLLXQc04Bg5CZn5Eyl73wUM-zhTjtKabA1DC8mGQrNobwKWhirbAKPZPhwJKzOidiFbSDDUPDGGQ9u-fl0EMfAIIMEqjBUZ~aYwsDKxSf2F~NJ6ubkQZFaC-VLVr2in~ZrXB6g-z3Qo7lrwowY8d7l756V-O5UyKmvxa-9DScmKMRy69tI~q-1DsbJQ3WAvdzGT2vHT4GYTFbnIzNCGjoG17bxYjGxyQljb21~3p859rBqt-vQAxXDPf2tBfUdzCSRl0huDLNAGn02Ms-Ru7QRvz4xRkYun2tTug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Onslow County Schools","date","2025-01-08T14:46:13Z","article","Onslow County Board of Education counsel reviewed the board’s legal authority, governance duties and conflict-of-interest rules as members begin the process of hiring a new superintendent.

Katie Cornetto, general counsel with Pointer Spruill law firm, told the board that the local board of education is a corporate body and that individual members have authority only when acting collectively in legal session. \"As individual board members, you have no authority to individually govern, supervise, or control the local school system,\" Cornetto said, adding that the board must act by majority vote and carry out responsibilities consistent with state law and adopted board policy.

Cornetto walked members through several duties she said are central to board service: adopting policy, delegating to the superintendent, maintaining confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest and acting as a quasi-judicial tribunal for certain appeals. She emphasized the need to refer complaints to the appropriate school administrator and not to pre-judge cases that may come before the board on appeal. \"If you have been involved at the first level, you’d not be part of the panel or the board hearing the case on appeal,\" she said, warning that courts have overturned board decisions when members had prejudged cases.

Her presentation also reviewed the board’s policy series (notably governance policies in the 2000 series) and local rules for handling complaints and appeals. Cornetto encouraged collaboration, transparency and ongoing training and said the board should begin unified work in preparation for the superintendent search.

Board members asked clarifying questions during and after the presentation about timelines and staff workload for accreditation and about how to stay informed without crossing the line into individual staff supervision. Cornetto urged members to consult the board packet and to use the attorney when needed.

No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational and intended to guide the board as it proceeds with superintendent hiring and other governance work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - January 7, 2025 - 6 pm","oneSentenceSummary","Board counsel reviewed statutory authority, member roles, conflict-of-interest rules and appeals procedures as the board begins its work toward hiring a new superintendent.","taxTitle","Onslow County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14095,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6397528,"Public commenters urge clarity on hiring and student rights at Onslow County Board meeting",345,2174000,2519000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2092506-00a167ffd780231f54753344afee7623&start=2174&end=2519","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2092506-00a167ffd780231f54753344afee7623/thumbnail_2174000.jpg","/articles/6397528/North-Carolina/Public-commenters-urge-clarity-on-hiring-and-student-rights-at-Onslow-County-Board-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397528-883ab950835d4bdc60492c4e2b3ff944/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185075&Signature=RnkY5nWNYmwgCYXH97101I7wvhc7GVz~jQLg6BgyDdNMerxstgDjZD67lhL-x7pKhLZFCxN6tE987xlyNEA0J0z9cVHS87xhkUD2y-F2p3vY~o6mnaxSZpu77xirxhyxWdwvqGM6RFypf0RsLQkwCdgXW7X5EOxaJMRo~NoNA4de~OuufDJW-4u37IyuVhGWkAa1SpTqQtf8oNIPOSKU2WL35686nWZqiSElW58fhPJuN5TvAm2wBnEy1-5O8BGNRxQuv4qFvpCCxBP4YdxBHeiqesXcyR6SM1zQHixoTl5zPEe4ugFop7vqzBWhv6CmIsbX33P06lhpYCX6T4rnSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two members of the public used the Onslow County Board of Education’s public-comment period to raise concerns about personnel decision-making and student inclusion.

Cynthia LaCourte asked the board to clarify how the district determines eligibility for reimbursement of master’s degrees and other personnel benefits, saying the public and employees “are due an answer” about whether relatives or friends received preferential treatment. \"I'm not making an accusation, but I believe that the employees of Onslow County School District and the general public should have an explanation,\" LaCourte told the board.

LaCourte said she was seeking transparency about selections for reimbursements and noted relationships she said are relevant to employees who received benefits; she repeatedly emphasized she was not formally accusing specific individuals but said staff and the public deserved an explanation.

A second speaker, Ari Rakowitz, described personal experiences in public schools and urged the board to emphasize children’s rights and inclusive practices. Rakowitz recounted challenges with mental health and special education needs, described how family and teachers had affected his path, and said he would email recommendations to the board and share them publicly at a future meeting. \"I hope the new superintendent, board, and staff will emphasize children's rights and inclusive celebration of difference to enhance both well-being and achievement,\" Rakowitz said.

Board policy and the board’s public-comment script were read aloud at the start of the comment period; the board’s policy code 2310 was cited as the framework that limits board member responses during the public-comment period and reserves detailed replies for the board comments segment at the end of meetings. No formal staff responses or board actions followed the two public comments during the meeting.","Two speakers used the Board's public-comment period to ask for transparency on employee reimbursements and to urge policies that uphold children’s rights and inclusion.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6397533,"Onslow County Schools cites accreditation, classroom framework as evidence of rising student performance",901,3146000,4047000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2092506-00a167ffd780231f54753344afee7623&start=3146&end=4047","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2092506-00a167ffd780231f54753344afee7623/thumbnail_3146000.jpg","/articles/6397533/North-Carolina/Onslow-County-Schools-cites-accreditation-classroom-framework-as-evidence-of-rising-student-performance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397533-a250e41858d4dc3d8e7a3c3f27fcf176/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185075&Signature=Nwi2loOO8Oas0AHwTUFztS~rSf1Ea82Xr7SBWuZXqQIGHNdSDUY1fe4nA57XKdDEr2wrahUqXTvBcQNZ9diUca~EmWmKALV8ePbaY7UGb2mTJAw899GSsWgpCRRPafKIeXqIcHsjyV0fbf3GKoJ-OK8EU9b2VrrXBUU4kN0RMinTaI2W49cmji5dWdthLSSbHugnr0Xf1NjLuJI3FkBkDwGCejjzsLsRx4NBAm8~8DUFmuQq-rox~pBGHQ78Dqz-7Z2VTuyYsTtSDuwn9ryHa6q2vSmW2UdXdZQlf2hELiJ0llBegJGxPWeswlAutZGiaMfpEydBKxi0lwnABaMGlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Onslow County Schools officials told the Board of Education that the district’s systemwide accreditation review and an updated instructional framework are driving measurable gains in student outcomes.

The update delivered Thursday by Dr. Chris Barnes, chief academic officer, said the district’s instructional framework — organized around planning, instruction, assessment and culture — has been expanded to include student-observable evidence and linked to Cognia’s Effective Learning Environment Observation Tool (ELIOT). \"This evening is just for informational purposes,\" Barnes said as he introduced the report.

Barnes said district measures show progress on several fronts: elementary tested areas met or exceeded state growth expectations, 74% of schools increased their performance grade score in the most recent year, graduation-rate metrics showed a multi-year improvement, and students earned thousands of college credits while enrolled in Onslow County Schools. The presentation cited roughly 2,700 classroom observations using the ELIOT instrument with an average district rating of 2.84, compared with a Cognia network average of about 2.75. The district’s Index of Educational Quality (IEQ) score was reported as 323, which Barnes said put the district above the Cognia network average.

Barnes described the 2018 framework’s four domains and said staff added a new column this year to capture aligned student behaviors (for example, students using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary when appropriate). He said that approach makes the link between teacher practice and observable student learning clearer during classroom visits.

Barnes and Dr. Mark Bulrus, executive director of elementary education, attributed improvements to systemwide attention to effective instructional practice, professional development for new and incumbent teachers, and use of instructional coaches and framework “champions” in schools. Barnes said the framework is woven into mentoring and teacher-evaluation conversations and that district teams will continue the six-year accreditation cycle with ongoing documentation and improvement work.

Board members pressed for practical details about implementation. When asked how long accreditation work takes, Barnes said the accreditation cycle is typically six years but that preparing documentation and organizing evidence can require several months of concentrated staff work. \"Once you're really doing the documentation and writing in there, so you're really talking six months of good, solid work time,\" Barnes said.

The presentation included numeric outcomes reported by district staff, including a year-over-year increase in teacher growth metrics (for example, the percentage of math teachers meeting or exceeding growth increased to 81% for grades 4–8) and 6,225 college credits earned by students in the prior year. Barnes said these metrics reflect the district’s continuous improvement model and the superintendent’s “Raise the Bar” challenge.

Board members praised staff for the work and asked for clearer signals to parents about why accreditation matters; Barnes replied that accreditation is an external review that “puts a stamp of approval” on district processes and documentation and increases the credibility of diplomas and credentials.

The report was informational; no board action was taken. District staff said they will continue to implement the framework, collect evidence through ELIOT observations, and report progress in future updates.","District staff told the board the system earned favorable accreditation findings and reported improvement on multiple achievement measures tied to a common instructional framework and classroom observation tool.","actionData","errors"]

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Board attorney outlines legal duties as Onslow County Board prepares superintendent search

Public commenters urge clarity on hiring and student rights at Onslow County Board meeting

Onslow County Schools cites accreditation, classroom framework as evidence of rising student performance