SMSD BOE - Don't limit Public Comment!
The Issue
On Monday, July 26th, the SMSD Board of Education will vote to limit the public comment portion of the board meeting to ONLY 30 minutes. As elected officials, the members of the board are expected to listen to the concerns of the SMSD community (the taxpayers). By limiting the public comment to ONLY 30 minutes, the board is silencing the voices of those they serve.
In the near future, the BOE will also decide whether to continue livestreaming the public comment portion of the meeting. If the BOE votes NOT to livestream public comment, then the only way to know what concerned community members share during public comment would be to attend the meeting in person.
By signing the petition, you are asking the SMSD Board of Education NOT to set a time limit on public comment and you are requesting public comment always be livestreamed.
Other steps you can take:
Email the BOE:
North - saragoodburn@smsd.org
Northwest - jamieborgman@smsd.org
West - lauraguy@smsd.org
East - marysinclair@smsd.org
South - jessicahembree@smsd.org
At-large - heatherousley@smsd.org
At-large - bradstratton@smsd.org
Sign up to speak at the July 26th meeting. You must sign up before noon the day of the meeting. Here are the instructions:
https://www.smsd.org/about/board-of-education/public-comment
The specific wording of the proposed revised board policy BCBI limiting public comment to 30 minutes is as follows:
"Public Comment
The Board will meet for up to 30 minutes for the purpose of Public Comment prior to regularly scheduled board meetings. The board president or presiding officer may invite speakers who have completed the Public Comment Information Card to speak during the Public Comment meeting. Guidelines for Public Comment can be found on the district website or may be requested from the clerk.
The board president may impose a limit on the time a visitor may address the board. The board president may ask groups with the same interest to appoint a spokesperson to deliver the group’s message. Generally, responses from board members during Public Comment will be limited to clarifying questions."
The Issue
On Monday, July 26th, the SMSD Board of Education will vote to limit the public comment portion of the board meeting to ONLY 30 minutes. As elected officials, the members of the board are expected to listen to the concerns of the SMSD community (the taxpayers). By limiting the public comment to ONLY 30 minutes, the board is silencing the voices of those they serve.
In the near future, the BOE will also decide whether to continue livestreaming the public comment portion of the meeting. If the BOE votes NOT to livestream public comment, then the only way to know what concerned community members share during public comment would be to attend the meeting in person.
By signing the petition, you are asking the SMSD Board of Education NOT to set a time limit on public comment and you are requesting public comment always be livestreamed.
Other steps you can take:
Email the BOE:
North - saragoodburn@smsd.org
Northwest - jamieborgman@smsd.org
West - lauraguy@smsd.org
East - marysinclair@smsd.org
South - jessicahembree@smsd.org
At-large - heatherousley@smsd.org
At-large - bradstratton@smsd.org
Sign up to speak at the July 26th meeting. You must sign up before noon the day of the meeting. Here are the instructions:
https://www.smsd.org/about/board-of-education/public-comment
The specific wording of the proposed revised board policy BCBI limiting public comment to 30 minutes is as follows:
"Public Comment
The Board will meet for up to 30 minutes for the purpose of Public Comment prior to regularly scheduled board meetings. The board president or presiding officer may invite speakers who have completed the Public Comment Information Card to speak during the Public Comment meeting. Guidelines for Public Comment can be found on the district website or may be requested from the clerk.
The board president may impose a limit on the time a visitor may address the board. The board president may ask groups with the same interest to appoint a spokesperson to deliver the group’s message. Generally, responses from board members during Public Comment will be limited to clarifying questions."
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Petition created on July 7, 2021