School board members’ trip may have violated laws

BY BRAD A. HODGES
SALISBURY POST

The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education may have violated state law when several members traveled to Knoxville, Tenn., last week to interview a finalist for superintendent, an attorney for the N.C. Press Association said.

North Carolina’s open meetings law requires public bodies to give public notice of the time and place of all meetings outside those that are regularly scheduled in advance.

The school board announced that it was meeting last Thursday afternoon in East Spencer. But it did not specify that the meeting would continue in Knoxville that night and the following morning.

Board members stayed at a Hampton Inn in Knoxville, technically remaining in closed session the entire time, said Boots Lottes, clerk to the board.

Four of the seven board members — Dr. Ada Fisher, Clyde Miller, Kay Wright Norman and L.A. Overcash — traveled together. The meeting should have been announced, Amanda Martin, an attorney for the N.C. Press Association, said this morning.

School board attorney Don Sayers could not be reached this morning.

All seven members of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education met for a little more than an hour Tuesday night to continue discussing the search behind closed doors. They had no comment when finished.

Chairwoman Dr. Bettie Starr has said she hopes the board can announce a decision by Monday.

The search began in July, when Superintendent Dr. Joe McCann announced his retirement. School board members took comments from residents at meetings all over Rowan County.