Orange County NC Website
5 <br /> Presenters to the Task Force included: <br /> • Karen Fairley, Executor Director of the Center for Safer Schools, an agency within the NC <br /> Department of Public Instruction <br /> • UNC Law School Professor Mary-Rose Papandrea regarding the First Amendment and <br /> the Constitution <br /> • John Roberts, County Attorney for Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> The agendas and meeting summaries for Task Force meetings are available at: <br /> https://www.orangecountync.gov/AgendaCenter/Search/?term=&CIDs=38,&startDate=&endDat <br /> e=&dateRange=&dateSelector= <br /> Based on the information gathering efforts, presentations and discussion, the Task Force <br /> developed the attached Final Report including nine (9) recommendations (see page 7 of the <br /> Report). <br /> Greg Wilder, Assistant to the County Manager for Legislative Issues, reviewed the <br /> background information for this item. He invited retired District Court Judge and task force <br /> facilitator, Jay Bryan, to make comments. <br /> Jay Bryan thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as facilitator for this task force <br /> and said he enjoyed working with Commissioner Hamilton and Vice-Chair McKee as co-chairs, <br /> as well as Greg Wilder. He said the Board's wisely chosen task force members brought a wide <br /> array of perspectives and expertise. He shared the topics discussed at each meeting and <br /> reviewed the recommendations from the task force: <br /> 1. Annual meetings of the Task Force or other group be convened by the BOCC to review <br /> policies that address safety in the school districts and provide education on laws <br /> addressing school disruptions. <br /> 2. Quarterly meetings of school staff involved in school safety issues and law enforcement <br /> to continue to be held to discuss coordination and communication regarding safety. <br /> 3. The physical boundaries of each school in the school districts be identified and shared <br /> with stakeholders, including law enforcement, emergency management, school staff, <br /> parents, and others involved in school safety. <br /> 4. Assessments of improvements to school buildings regarding safety as well as funding for <br /> such improvements be continued. <br /> 5. Law enforcement, schools, and emergency management continue to follow Standard <br /> Response Protocols and evaluate approaches that are individualized for each school. <br /> 6. The roles of SROs, teachers, and staff be clearly communicated among all stakeholders. <br /> 7. Annual surveys of teachers and students' perceptions of safety and disruption of schools <br /> be promulgated and evaluated for promoting safety. <br /> 8. Common definitions and accessible language for terms and first responder codes involved <br /> in school safety (i.e.., "disruption", "external threats", "lockdown") be developed for both <br /> school districts and the community. <br /> 9. Outreach should continue a coordinated basis with the public about how the community <br /> can support school safety. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said this was a good task force experience. She said there is <br /> amazing expertise in this community, and it was present on this task force. She specifically <br /> recognized the student representative that participated and highlighted the importance of their <br /> perspective. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked why only one student participated. <br />