[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6339868,"mediaKeyId","2260640-56ed704345d46502abb4ef2738984508","parentId",2260640,"title","Cumberland County Board unanimously hires McPherson & Jacobson to lead superintendent search after debate","audioSeconds",495,"startMs",2962000,"endMs",3457000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260640-56ed704345d46502abb4ef2738984508&start=2962&end=3457","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260640-56ed704345d46502abb4ef2738984508/thumbnail_2962000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339868/North-Carolina/Cumberland-County-Board-unanimously-hires-McPherson-Jacobson-to-lead-superintendent-search-after-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339868-d3e2001f1a16c16ba2ac9bba7c13347a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182420&Signature=FHD0nlCbf1C~WjDNoU2jghyiPiAUz-Gjv~MwNwoFE-953L4eVQ5uuG8~I8Pr2zRwA~Q7ESHxFedNf5StwNRqLzBPWedHuM0mmdYJ3C6p74qAodf6mTnbbmyVFi~4zSwfTEaF~a-W7XfJLQDjvh859wHkGEokdlgy5l7el86MJjH7N6cOqyA3pRoRH4--fpTYg3u7k43ZvqKJAzqX~WEZXiEijcruG39ic7vxtknuH5ArW4tWWG9PmfKc-iV8CwEmXPEp6n5qsO2FqoMtcXc~-anWA5ABpQTX6pkbHin88e71~oiFURvWA3KSzFPlSgsWURispX0akkm5bWBlizvuAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cumberland County Schools","date","2025-02-04T18:36:22Z","article","The Cumberland County Board of Education voted unanimously to hire executive search firm McPherson & Jacobson to conduct the district's superintendent search, approving the selection as agenda item 13.03.

Board members debated multiple proposals before the final vote. An initial motion to hire the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) was introduced but later withdrawn after several board members said they would not support NCSBA because of how the association had handled a prior incident during board training. One board member said, \"I will not be voting for them because of that and their apology. We're sorry. I'm still angry.\" Another said the board needed a firm that would \"truly vet the people\" and broaden the search beyond state borders.

Following the withdrawal, a motion was made to hire McPherson & Jacobson; a second was recorded and the board approved the selection unanimously. Meeting audio and the chair announced the final vote as unanimous. The transcript does not specify the contract price, the proposed timeline for the search, or a detailed scope of work for McPherson & Jacobson.

Board discussion cited three considerations in choosing a firm: (1) prior relationships and treatment of the board by a vendor, (2) the perceived geographic scope and reach of the firm, and (3) cost. One board member who favored a state association emphasized that NCSBA offered equivalent services at a lower price and that membership should entitle the district to prioritized attention. Board members who opposed NCSBA said the association's conduct at a recent training undermined trust.

No public comment or outside stakeholder testimony on the selection was recorded during the action. The board did not read a contract on the record, and the vote transcript does not record a roll-call tally of yes/no votes by name; the chair announced the outcome as unanimous.

The selection advances the formal process for identifying candidates for superintendent but does not itself appoint an individual. The board did not set or announce an effective deadline for candidate submissions or final selection during the recorded discussion.

Votes at a glance
- 13.03: Motion to hire McPherson & Jacobson to conduct the superintendent search — approved (announced as unanimous). Motion text on the record: \"hire the McPherson and Jacobson company to do the search for new superintendent for our Cumberland County Schools.\" Agenda reference: 13.03. Contract amount: not specified.

Next steps indicated in the meeting: staff and board will proceed with the search under the chosen firm; specific dates and reporting requirements were not specified on the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCS Board of Education Meeting February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Cumberland County Board of Education voted unanimously to hire McPherson & Jacobson to conduct the district's superintendent search (agenda item 13.03).","taxTitle","Cumberland County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14089,"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},6339863,"Student proposes 'Project Freedom' pilot to fund menstrual products in Cumberland County Schools",197,2395000,2592000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260640-56ed704345d46502abb4ef2738984508&start=2395&end=2592","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260640-56ed704345d46502abb4ef2738984508/thumbnail_2395000.jpg","/articles/6339863/North-Carolina/Student-proposes-Project-Freedom-pilot-to-fund-menstrual-products-in-Cumberland-County-Schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339863-1abee98e31219278f6656112a9bdfd0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182420&Signature=DZbU9gKfjcX5x-ZVgDErY1cPTjKXmZnpx3T4U2BN4wYYeetRmiJB6Y7hLB4Ghemon6JSkJ83fb8Vz9RI1q9~M0qGw39fI4S0xlKRFhX4mTMvwZwKQhK~qc9lFkp3A9a5C5H1HZDQFBsN1Nk1-SjmC85ZhdUOKT5tF5uxBNXP5mAzL-2ySY38gpH3tGt5F~sxJTB0JABi3SY0RLuzdUVduaPvBv8tryG817I7L37FBOdYPWi8qpQJY-OgDA~gMlC7axH22mkchZT~7Q7Sj7sovsxIrt4uRAZPa9UGeagF0XidL-yapmHnuol7-fkEzZRPX2pc-ThQEV6ryZhwBwM53A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amber Johnson, a senior at Grays Creek High School, urged the Cumberland County Board of Education during the public forum to create a pilot program that would fund and sustain access to menstrual products at selected high schools.

Johnson described \"Project Freedom, Empowering Period Dignity,\" a student initiative she developed as a Girl Scout Gold Award candidate. She told the board that lack of access to menstrual products causes students to miss class or avoid activities and framed the issue as one of health, equity and educational access. \"Menstrual products are not a luxury, they are a basic necessity,\" Johnson said.

Her proposal asks the district to fund a pilot program at designated schools so that supplies are not dependent solely on donations. She named several schools she hopes to include in the pilot: E.E. Smith High School, Westover High School, Grays Creek High School, Douglas Byrd High School, and Fayetteville (70 First) High School. (Transcript uses several spellings for some schools; names have been normalized to the district's official school names where possible.)

Johnson proposed that products be stocked in restrooms, the nurses' office, and existing \"GAP\" (Girls Against Period Poverty) closets so students can access supplies discreetly. She requested that the board establish a district-funded pilot to guarantee ongoing supplies and reduce the stigma and academic impact she described.

No formal board decision or vote on the pilot was recorded during the meeting. Meeting protocol that evening reiterated that the board typically does not respond during the public forum; staff and board members acknowledged the comment and the superintendent said remarks would be taken \"under advisement.\" The transcript contains no subsequent agenda item or motion to create a funded pilot program.

The request will likely proceed through staff and committee review before any funding is proposed; the transcript does not record any follow-up assignment, timeline, or funding source.

Ending
Amber Johnson's proposal placed period products into the meeting record as an equity and student-support issue. The board did not act on the request during the meeting; any district response would appear in later staff reports or committee agendas if the board directs follow-up.","A Cumberland County high school senior asked the Board of Education to establish a pilot program to fund and stock menstrual products in several high schools, citing period poverty and requests for funding to make 'GAP closets' permanent.","actionData","errors"]

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Cumberland County Board unanimously hires McPherson & Jacobson to lead superintendent search after debate

Student proposes 'Project Freedom' pilot to fund menstrual products in Cumberland County Schools