Protesters seek changes to school board public comment policies

Protesters seek changes to school board public comment policies
By Dave Aeikens • daeikens@stcloudtimes.com • May 6, 2010

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Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A St. Cloud school board members are considering changes to their public comment policy.




The discussion comes as the board continues to take criticism and questions about the process by which people can convey concerns or share information with the board.
Board members discussed the public comment and board process at a workshop Wednesday.
"We have some good ideas out there. We are trying to figure out the best thing to have," said board Chairwoman Sigrid Hedman-Dennis.
One person with concerns is Lydia White of St. Cloud, who has attended board meetings since Feb. 10, questioning the board policy and its commitment to openness and willingness to listen to public opinion.
White also wants the board to keep better records of what is said at the meetings in the public comment. State law requires the board to record its votes. On Wednesday, White was among a group of about 12 people who attended the board workshop session who brought signs drawing attention to the issue.
Four people, three of them with White's group, spoke at a regular public input session Wednesday. The public comment and overall board meeting process, including how to connect with schools and whether the meetings should be televised, is being discussed by a board committee that board member Deb Lalley chairs.
The board's policy allows for people to speak for three minutes each before the board work session the first Wednesday of the month. The board is not supposed to respond but sometimes does.
One change under consideration would provide for 45 minutes of discussion with at least two board members before the meetings. The format was borrowed from Bloomington school district and is similar to what Sauk Rapids-Rice has in place.
"We'd like to have more dialogue before this meeting," Lalley said.
The issue will return to Lalley's committee.
"For me, it is about accountability, I want to know how many times people have said these things over and over again," White said after the meeting.