Moore County Schools Policy Committee recommends new sex-ed policy and 49 other updates

Today, the Moore County Schools’ Policy Committee recommended changes to Policy 1310/4002 under section #5 on teaching gender fluidity and sex education, and 49 other policy updates. They repealed and archived outdated policies.

The committee expedited two policies scheduled for Jan. reviews. The policy committee will review 7240 Drug-Free Workplace at its next meeting because last week the district had to deal with THC and CBD vapes. They will also review 4318 Use of Wireless Communication Devices because parents with students on IEPs and 504s using GPS services, such as Angel Sense, have the ability to listen in on school conversations, and that is a violation. GPS helps locate wandering students. Both policies will be reviewed and updated.

The board read the following policies on Sept. 14, and the next reading is Oct. 12, when they will vote on the policy committee’s recommended changes.

Many recommendations were based on aligning the district with the North Carolina School Boards Association. Some were simply to match the four digit indentification with the state system, and some were selected to be adopted from the state because the district did not have the required policy.

The agenda read it recommended replacing the original 1310/4002 with an edited version, which included the changes marked in red:

The committee discussed the proposed policy above and made further changes.

Vice Chairperson Shannon Davis recommended adding “Engagement” to the title.

“As far as we know, gender fluidity has never been taught in Moore County Schools,” Member Steve Johnson, who participated virtually, said.

The state requires reproduction and birth control taught in seventh grade.

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Andy McCormick guided the discussion with state policies and general statutes. North Carolina G.S. 115 requires reproductive education.

In the end, the policy committee recommended to not instruct pre-K through twelfth grades on gender identity, gender fluidity, sexual activity or sexuality, except for the seventh-grade reproduction education requirement, and to include, per state requirements, to answer student-initiated questions.

Superintendent Jennifer Purvis said to answer gender fluidity and gender I.D. questions with a statement that it was not in their curriculum.

Purvis reminded the policy committee that the red strike-throughs meant a change in language and plain red text meant new language.

The policy committee recommended a new school safety policy. View here.

They recommended a revised professional development policy. The original was not even a complete sentence.

They revised policy 1710/4020/7230 Discrimination and Harassment Prohibited by Federal Law is recommended for revision to align with the NCSBA sample policy. The largest change is below:

View the recommended sex discrimination policy here.

Policies 1730/4022/7231 and  1730/4022/7231-R were revised to align with NCSBA.

Review the recommended changes in the subject list.

Harassment

Complaints

Retaliation

Superintendent Relations Policy Member Ken Benway suggested adding “cohesive and collegiate relationship.”

Oath of Office

Ethics for School Board Members Johnson suggested that members be held to the same ethics standards and requirements as employees, including background checks.

Board Member Technology Use

Board Meetings

Rules of Order replaced with Parliamentary Procedures

Instructional Media

Inspection of Instructional Materials

Acceptable Use of Technology

Responsible Technology Use

Web Page Development

Duty-Free Lunch replaced with School Improvement Plan

Class Rankings Purvis said they had steps in place for administration, that they inform everyone in student handbooks and it is sent in emails. The committee wants to change the duty of principals to elect candidates from “will” to the legal term “shall.”

Title I Program

Student Activities and Organizations

Public Records Policy

School Nutrition Services Under the “No Lunch Shaming” provisions enacted in the North Carolina state budget, schools are prohibited from serving different or lower-quality food to children who owe a debt. Instead, the law mandates that all students must be given the same regular meal options regardless of their account balance or payment status.

Vendor Ethics

Vendor Lists

Recruit and Select Employees All candidates must be checked on the sex offender registry, per federal law.

Licensure

Employee Use of Social Media

Employee Dress and Appearance

Military Leave

Bad Weather

Retirement

Construction Bids

Repeal Minority Business The law requiring this favoritism no longer exists.

Complaints

Policy Development

Personal Technology to Conduct School Business

Student Promotion

Evaluate Student Progress This garnered a discussion leading to an agreement that a “grade floor” be decided. When students were awarded 50 points when they had not completed work in the first nine weeks, the passing grade was 70. So, students could make an 88 and likely pass.

The standards were lowered. Now, the passing grade is 60, so Purvis said they should make the grade floor a 40 or 45, because then students could make a 70 in the first semester and have a better chance of passing.

The board will discuss the grade floor for no work completed or insufficient work at the Oct. 12 work session.

NEW ADOPTION

Hearings Before the Board

Technology in Classrooms

Internet Safety

Stored Information

Reporting to External Agencies

Student Transportation

Audio Recordings by Employees North Carolina is a one-party consent recording state. The district’s attorney said students could not record anyone. Teachers, as whistleblowers, may record illegal activities.

Each of the above recommended policy changes are subject to change following board discussion at the Oct. 12 meeting.

Concerned Parent

Amanda McBride, the legal guardian and a parent advocate, emailed a letter to Sandhills News and shared an informational packet with the policy committee on helping disabled students.

“My concerns began before my grandson entered kindergarten. He had previously been receiving special-education services through the district’s preschool program, but that IEP was discontinued before he entered kindergarten despite my concerns that he would continue to need support. At kindergarten registration on March 28, 2025, the school system was informed of his existing disabilities, prior services, behavioral concerns, and my belief that he would need an IEP or 504 Plan. He nevertheless entered kindergarten without an IEP, 504 Plan, or behavior plan. A formal meeting to address new special-education supports was not held until February 27, 2026, 336 days after registration. During that school year, his behaviors escalated, and on March 13, 2026, a weighted/compression vest was used without my prior knowledge or consent. On May 12, autism eligibility was declined, and on May 29 he was found eligible under Other Health Impairment and offered special-education services.

Since then, I have compiled extensive records, correspondence, evaluations, meeting information, and complaint findings concerning what occurred. My goal in bringing this information to the Moore County Board of Education is not to pursue litigation, but to ask for review, transparency, accountability, and meaningful improvements in how students with disabilities and their families are supported. I have also heard from other families reporting concerns involving IEPs and 504 Plans, which is why I believe these issues deserve broader review beyond one child’s experience.”

The next school board meeting is Oct. 12.

Sept. 29, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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