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Public commenters press District 86 on FOIA delays, a redacted $80,000 settlement and curriculum alignment
Summary
Multiple speakers at the May 5 organizational meeting urged transparency around a redacted settlement the speaker said involved an $80,000 payment, criticized a policy change shifting FOIA appointment authority and urged changes to curriculum-alignment and grading policies.
Several members of the public used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the board on transparency and district policies.
Yvonne Mayer and Dale Clever raised concerns about recent policy changes and records related to closed-session review and Freedom of Information Act compliance. Mayer noted that board policy language had been revised to make the board president responsible for appointing the FOIA officer and that a separate policy change removed presidential accountability for FOIA actions; she said the change left the FOIA officer solely accountable. Dale Clever referenced a heavily redacted settlement and release document he said showed the district agreed to reimburse parents for expenses and attorney fees in the amount of $80,000; he asked new board members not to vote on officers until they had reviewed any unredacted settlement agreement and the closed-session tapes he said were relevant.
Other public commentators praised the board’s recent work and asked for continued transparency and student-focused decision-making. Multiple speakers expressed appreciation for the reconstituted curriculum adoption procedures and for steps taken to prioritize literacy and students’ access to courses.
During the same public-comment block, several speakers urged the district to reconsider how it has implemented an alignment policy across the two high schools. Roberta Packer, speaking as a parent and longtime participant in district affairs, asked the board to limit cross-building mandates that would require identical tests, grading and retake policies and argued for leaving classroom-level grading discretion with teachers where appropriate. Another speaker urged the board to “give academics back to the administration” and to reassess the academic committee’s role.
Board members did not take formal action on public comments during the meeting. Several public speakers asked the newly seated board members to review documents, closed-session recordings and the redacted settlement before voting on leadership positions that night.
The meeting record shows that public commenters raised both procedural concerns (FOIA production timelines and closed-session access) and substantive program concerns (alignment and grading policy). No board action to change policy or open records was recorded at the May 5 meeting; the matters raised will require staff follow-up and possible agenda items for future meetings.
