(The Center Square) – Two school districts in western North Carolina appear to be “on deck” for the strong right arm of Rep. Brenden Jones’ Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools were in front of the panel last week to answer for age-appropriate book selections. Jones on Monday indicated he’s aware Buncombe County has similar offerings in elementary school libraries.
In a social media post, the legislative committee referenced a Feb. 8, 2024, email exchange from the board chairman of Asheville City Schools to a board member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. In it, George Sieburg said he liked how the district responded to “not adopting certain policies” outlined in Senate Bill 49.
Parents’ Bill of Rights, as SB49 is formally known, was enacted in the 2023-24 session through override of a gubernatorial veto from Roy Cooper, now a candidate for U.S. Senate. The law enhances public school transparency, outlines the rights and responsibilities of parents, and install guardrails on curriculum dealing with gender identity and sexual orientation.
Calling books with naked men approved for 4-year-olds “damn trash” and throwing them to the floor, Jones recently grilled the Superintendent Rodney Trice and former Board of Education Chairman George Griffin from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Books with titles like “Santa’s Husband” and “The Sissy Duckling” were also brought out.
Thursday, Jones wrote on social media and provided video evidence, “Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools still claims the filth I exposed yesterday is not on their website. Well, explain to me then Dr. Trice why they are still up and recommended? I’ll make this easy. Take them down, stop the grooming, and resign!”
At the hearing, Trice and Griffin stated the district was in compliance with the law. Rep. Allison Dahle, D-Wake, said she supported the district “skirting” the law.
Friday, Jones via email sent a letter to Griffin affirming monthly documentation of full and ongoing compliance with SB49 would be required starting in January. Eight additional questions with deadlines of Dec. 23 were also requested, along with five follow-up questions related to the hearing.
Among them, consequences for schools and staff not following board policy. Also, a Jan. 18, 2024, board meeting and the actions of the board related to the law. Additionally on that meeting, Jones asked for confirmation of Griffin’s statement at the hearing that legal counsel was not consulted about SB49 before the meeting.
In a broadcast interview Tuesday, Jones said, “Going forward, I can promise we’re going to keep a very close watch and a very tight eye on what these school systems are going to be teaching from here forward. They may have pulled the wool over folks’ eyes in the past, but it’s all exposed now and we will be doing after them if that’s what we have to do.”
