While the form won’t be officially voted on until the October board meeting — and first passing through the New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) policy committee in three weeks’ time — board members had a discussion on what they should or should not require of parents/guardians checking out their students for religious purposes.
For background on the new state law, State Senator Michael Lee, who represents most of New Hanover County, was a primary co-sponsor of SB 1006, which introduced the idea that students can receive up to four hours of excused instructional time for religious reasons. While that bill didn’t technically pass, it ended up in the 634-page state budget bill passed on July 7.
The proposed NHCS form follows the guidelines set forth in policies regarding checking students in and out of school — and exempting students from attendance — and certain curricula for religious reasons…