Overview
- House Majority Leader Brenden Jones led a legislative oversight session questioning Superintendent Rodney Trice and Board Chair George Griffin after Republicans presented a video and an email they said urged sidestepping parts of SB49.
- Trice and Griffin testified the district complies with the law, with Griffin apologizing for confusion and, according to WRAL cited by Fox News, noting sections initially held back were later adopted following development of procedures.
- Jones highlighted titles he said were promoted on district elementary resource pages, including “Santa’s Husband,” “These Are My Eyes, This Is My Nose, This Is My Vulva, These Are My Toes,” and “It Isn’t Rude to Be Nude,” and read excerpts during the hearing.
- A CHCCS spokesperson denied the books were offered or recommended, while Jones’ office provided an October screenshot showing a district webpage linking to third-party book lists; the visible link has since been removed, though the page remains hosted.
- Republican members warned of legal or legislative steps to compel compliance, with Rep. Jeff McNeely raising possible funding cuts as CHCCS faces a thin general fund and enrollment decline, and no sanctions or new measures were announced.