Policy on Public Participation at School Board Meetings Officially Revised

Ever since a bus driver was due to a contradiction in district policy at an , the B-W School Board has discussed revisions to that policy that details who is permitted to speak at its meetings.

On Wednesday night, by the board's 7-2 vote, the revised policy took effect.

The policy now voids the following sentence: “The Board requires that public participants be residents or taxpayers of this district or anyone representing a group in the community or school district, any representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the Board, any district employee, or any district student.”

And, after this sentence, “ ... The Board shall provide an opportunity at each open meeting of the Board for residents and taxpayers to comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation before the Board prior to official action by the Board,” it would add this sentence, “Other persons wishing to speak at a public meeting may request permission to do so.”

After much debate—read —Nancy Lee Crowder and Kevin A. Stiffey were the only school board members to vote “no” on Wednesday.

The revised policy takes effect immediately.

Check back with the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch later on Thursday for more odds and ends from Wednesday night's school board meeting.

Do you agree with the revisions? Tell us in the comments section below.

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