Parents are making the decision to move their children from public schools to private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling. And the decline in students has something to do with the approach taken by many school boards.
When an agenda stands in the way of change, it is time to look for solutions.
Here in Keene, what is the approach that is allowed when a parent has concerns about a bullied child? Or concern about education? What about the taxpayer who has concerns about these?
Currently, what is seen on the website (Keene School District* keeneschoolsnh.org in the right-hand menu, Public Comment Conduct Link**), is this…
Public Comment Conduct (From their site.)
1. The primary purpose of a Board Meeting is to conduct the business of the District. It is not a Public Hearing or Town Meeting.
2. Each speaker will be given 3 minutes to speak.
3. Each speaker may only speak once during each meeting.
4. All speakers are to conduct themselves in a civil manner. Speakers may not use threats of physical violence, may not speak or conduct themselves in a way that incites violence or is disruptive, may not be vulgar or obscene, and need to speak to business related to the School Board and operations of the District. The School Board will not permit repetitive, harassing, or frivolous speech or comments that are off topic, antagonistic, obscene, or libelous as such statements will be considered out of order and will not be tolerated. The Board Chair may terminate the speaker’s privilege of address if the speaker does not follow this rule of order. Repeated refusals to comply will result in removal from the meeting.
6. Public Comment is not a question and answer period. In general, the Board will not answer questions asked or respond to comments made by members of the public.
7. Per NH RSA 91- A:2 – No person shall address a Board meeting without recognition of the Chair and all persons in the audience shall be silent unless addressed directly or called upon to address the Board.
This includes applause or other reactions to public comments made by others. If after a warning from the Chair, said person persists in disorderly behavior, the Chair may order the person to withdraw from the meeting, and, if the person does not withdraw, they may be removed.
On the 26th of February, a letter from Ryan Clancy, to the editor at the Keene Sentinel, explained his thinking about the policy. ***“On the site, under the public comment section, you are allowed 3 minutes to talk. You cannot ask questions. You cannot speak for a second time. You cannot bring up a prior point that someone else has. For if you do, it could result in you being kicked out of the meeting.” (He asked the Sentinel to reach out the public and ask “why.”
Let us take #1. If not a public forum of sorts, where does the parent and/or taxpayer take their concerns that may include budgets, bullying and conduct, education, and the quest for transparency?
I can appreciate #2 and the intent behind it, as a limit to allow others to speak. But what if there are multiple topics in an evening, and now considering #3, how does one decide which to table? How does one choose budget and expenses, or education, or conduct and students leaving when all are important?
And while I understand the flavor of #4, the issues of numbers 1-3 may create the circumstances one is working to avoid. (It may also contain some first amendment issues.****)
#5-Oh, wait! There was not one.
#6 If this meeting is not for Q&A, where is the meeting for this?
#7 What part of *****NH RSA 91- A:2 is being quoted from?
As students move from the public-school sector to alternatives, the question needs to be raised. What can be done? This can be attributed to the previously mentioned issues, including concern for safety for students, budgets and spending, and the curricula.
Some practical solutions could include:
- Regular meetings (Monthly or quarterly) for public discussion.
- Seek a more inclusive method of hearing from taxpayers, educators, and parents.
- Develop a liaison for parents. An individual(s) that bring collected information to the school board.
It is time to work together with solid communication and understanding for the sake of students.
**Public Comment Conduct.pdf – Google Drive
***** Section 91-A:2 Meetings Open to Public. (state.nh.us)
