School Board grapples with allowing public comments at meetings
By Heather McDonald
Members of the public soon will not be able to voice comments, praise or concerns at Stevens Point Area Public School District Board meetings, unless the issue is one included on that meeting’s agenda.
School Board members voted 8-1 Monday, Sept. 11, to change a district policy that currently allows the public to comment on any issue at School Board or district committee meetings regardless of whether it is on the agenda.
The new policy, which will go into effect at a later date, will allow reference only to items on the published agenda.
Board member Amy Dailey said she understood the reason behind wanting to limit public comment, but in doing so the board is taking away parents’, students’ and staff’s ability to come before the board – and the public, as board meetings are streamed live and recorded – to tell the district about positive aspects of a student or family’s experience.
“It’s the criticism you want to stop, and how do you continue to improve if you don’t take criticism?” she said.
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