CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Union County Public Schools backtracked on its approved 2023-24 academic calendar after a lawsuit challenged the validity of its actions.
The school board voted Friday morning to reverse its December approval of the 2023-24 calendar, which would have brought students back to class Aug. 9, 2023.
Dominique Morrison was one of two parents who had sued Union County’s Board of Education, saying her business could lose thousands of dollars.
Morrison says she appreciated member John Kirkpatrick’s apology and says the newly approved school start date is better for her family, her business and follows the law.
“Actually, I’m really thankful. My child is in a split home, my 9-year-old is, and now we don’t have to — his dad and I can get a better schedule that’s not cut short,” Morrison added.
But, some board members during Friday’s meeting struck a defiant tone, as they criticized the tourism lobby, state lawmakers and some district parents for their support of late August starts.
Board members argued the state should not have a say and the earlier schedule was better for high school students. Some board members criticized the lawsuit on the record during the meeting.
“One of the plaintiffs sued us because of money — a for-profit business — because they thought they would not get enough money over the summer. So, it’s a lot about money all the time. Not about education, but money. And that’s not OK,” said board chair Kathy Heintel.
Heintel also claimed the board had never operated in secret about the calendar, discussing it in public meetings and putting it on public agenda documents. However, many parents who spoke with Spectrum News 1 in December, and again Friday, said the early August calendar was not included in a survey sent out to parents last year, asking for their preference.
Morrison clarified the lawsuit was not about money but her livelihood.
“I would love to invite the board members out to my farm, and if they’re allowed to, I’d love to have their family do a trail ride at no cost. It’s more about being around these animals and educating the kids when it comes to that. And then also following the law and being a good example for our kids,” Morrison said after the meeting.
The other parent in the lawsuit, Francis Ward, has two children in the county’s public schools and said, “We elect people to be our voice, to represent us, not to ignore us and break the law at the behest of whomever requested to the board to do this.”
Morrison and Ward told Spectrum News 1 they would talk with their attorney, Mitch Armbruster, about continuing or dropping the lawsuit.
“I am pleased that the Union County Board of Education has chosen to revise its school calendar and make it consistent with the law [as passed by the General Assembly]. I hope that all districts with a calendar that is inconsistent with the law will do the same,” Armbruster said in an email to Spectrum News 1 Friday.
Union County’s board approved a new calendar Friday, which would start the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 28 and end on June 7, 2024.
