Plano ISD trustees on Tuesday tabled (6–1) a proposed revision to board meeting public-participation rules that would formalize the district’s use of an online portal and shift non-agenda public comment away from the end of meetings.
The policy under consideration, BED Local, reflected changes prompted by recent Texas legislative language and district staff recommended using Let’s Talk — the district’s two-way communication tool — as the official portal for public comment and district inquiries. Chief Communications Officer Lehi (Leslie) Raine Stanton presented the plan, outlining staff expectations for response time and how families should escalate issues from campus staff to district administrators.
Trustees debated the proposal for nearly an hour. Supporters said a permanent online portal would broaden access — allowing more people to submit feedback without waiting for late-night meetings — and would provide traceable, documented two-way exchanges. “This allows for two-way communication versus just a one-way and a limited time,” Superintendent Theresa Williams said.
Opponents and several trustees argued the change could limit the public’s ability to address the board in a public forum and said in-person comments are sometimes the only practical way for residents to be heard publicly. Trustee Michael Cook and others said the public comment period provides public visibility that an online submission might not. "There is tremendous value in being heard in a public forum," Cook said during the discussion.
Board action: Trustee Catherine Goodwin moved to table the item until the board’s next regular meeting on Aug. 19; the motion passed 6–1. The district told trustees it must have an online portal in place to meet statutory requirements, and staff said they will return with details on the board’s view access to the portal, training for trustees and a proposed dashboard for board members.
What to expect next: Administration said it will bring back a staff proposal detailing how Let’s Talk will be used by families, how board members will access submissions and what training will be provided. Staff also said the portal will be promoted in back-to-school communications and will not replace emergency hotlines or campus-level first-step contacts.
Ending: The tabling motion leaves the district with a statutory requirement to maintain an online portal; trustees directed staff to return Aug. 19 with specifics about use and board access before a final vote.