Duplin Board of Education mum about lawsuit
By Catharin Shepard
Published in News on April 22, 2010 1:46 PM
KENANSVILLE - The Duplin County Board of Education met in executive session for about two hours Wednesday night to consult with the board attorney regarding litigation between the school board and the Duplin County Board of Commissioners.
When the Board of Education sued the commission in 2008, a jury awarded the schools $4.8 million, a finding the state Court of Appeals upheld last fall. County officials learned the conclusion to the case last Friday evening, when they confirmed the state Supreme Court chose not to hear the case.
The Board of Education did not make any summary announcements following the closed meeting.
Board of Education Chairman Reginald Kenan said the board members got word of the Supreme Court decision through phone calls last Friday evening.
Kenan said that the case does seem to have finally come to an end.
"Right now, as far as I know, I think so," he said.
The next step for the Board of Education will be to await payment of the $4.8 million award from the county.
Kenan said he could not yet discuss how the money might be used in the school system.
The Board of Commissioners will meet in closed session today at 2 p.m. to speak with the county's legal representatives.
The meeting will be open to the public after the closed session.