The school board now has an official conflict of interest policy for its members.

The board adopted the new policy last week at the recommendation of the N.C. School Boards Association. The board has been reviewing its policies for the past several months, including adopting an ethics policy in March.

Previously, the only reference to conflicts of interest was at the tail end of a policy on performance of duties which said board members should "have no business interests which will conflict with the activities of the Board."

It doesn't look like tax credits for special-needs students will get state legislative approval this year.

As noted in today's article, legislation that would allow parents of special-needs students to get a $6,000 a year tax credit for tuition at private schools is locked in committee. Both supporters and opponents concede it's unlikely the legislation will be voted on before the General Assembly recesses this month.

Legislators seem to be heeding the state's education lobby, which uniformly has opposed the bill as being a backdoor attempt toward vouchers for all families.