I enjoy my Irish ancestry. Part of that involves, as the Irish call it, “the craic” (pronounced “crack,” but not the horrific illegal substance). The craic is good conversation. It’s letting your views be known on issues, listening to others, having a good laugh, and leaving as a community, whether you’ve shouted at each other or are in pleasant agreement. It’s all left behind until the next time. And there’s probably a clever saying to go with you as you exit.
Last Tuesday, at the first DCSD Board of Education meeting featuring our new board members, Anne-Marie Lemieux, David Ray, and Wendy Vogel, newly-elected Board Vice-President Judi Reynolds, submitted a new action item on revision to the public comment policy, a controversial topic that began a vibrant discussion involving members and the public.
On the table at this point is how to conduct a Board of Education meeting that is respectful of the time of people attending, be it staff, board members themselves, and the public who wants to provide comment. This policy revision removes the five minute time limit for general public comment, requests speakers to confine their remarks to the agenda topic they are addressing and seeks to remedy the potential for personal complaints.
The board members recommended that members of the DCSD community can reach out to them directly with their thoughts on this topic, even if they do not attend meetings regularly or have an opinion but don’t feel comfortable addressing the Board in a public manner. The highlights of the current Board of Education policy on public comment are as follows:
• A speaker is given up to three minutes to comment on an agenda item.
• The Board president or presiding chair has discretion to set a time limit on the total length of the period of public comment and/or to set a different time limit for the individual speakers depending on the length of the agenda and number of speakers requesting to comment on the agenda items.
• Each regular Board meeting agenda has up to five minutes immediately prior to adjournment of the meeting for members of the public to suggest topics for the Board to consider for future meeting agendas, or other issues, subject matters or concerns to bring to the attention of the Board for potential future action. Speakers during this period have up to one minute to address the Board, with the President or presiding chair having the discretion to adjust the total five minute limit, closing the period for public input.
• The Board may either direct the superintendent to follow up individually at a later time or, if appropriate, request a response from a staff member.
• When appropriate, the Board of Education or superintendent will respond at the next Board meeting. Some comments will not result in staff response or further Board action.
• Members of the public may be recognized only by the presiding chair as the Board conducts its official business. A copy of these procedures will be made available at Board meetings.
Every DCSD Board of Education member (BOE for short), is a volunteer. Every parent driving down to Castle Rock from all parts of Douglas County is spending their valuable time to attend, be involved, and comment. How do we make sure that diverse voices are heard, while ensuring time to address the work of the BOE?
As the Parent Liaison, I talk with parents, staff, administrators, and community members throughout the district and I enjoy “the craic” with them. They provide valuable insight into the needs of schools, from culture issues to student and staff needs, so that they can do their best work in the classroom and be supported by involved, invested parents. They also provide a means to build community, relationships, and security.
I have had troubling discussions about the way adults interact with one another in multiple environments. Disagreement is inevitable. Disrespect is not. During this fresh start, how do we ensure, as a community, that when we disagree, we are setting an example for the students in our homes that are watching our actions and example more closely than listening to our instruction?
If you cannot make the Board of Education meetings to provide input publicly, I implore you to stream the meetings online from the District website and make contact with Board of Education Directors.
We want your input. You can email me at skbrown@dcsdk12.org with comments, take part in your School Accountability Committee (SAC) or the District Accountability Committee (DAC). Even if you are not a parent of a student in the school district, you can be a community member on various committees to share your expertise and experience. And, of course, you can reach out to any of the DCSD Board Members through their email addresses listed on the website.