Board committee tables vote on policy 0164.1 after member concerns it would limit open dialogue

The board’s policy committee recommended that the full Voorhees Township School District Board of Education postpone a second‑read vote on proposed revisions to policy 0164.1, which governs conduct of board members during public meetings.

Policy committee chair Branch Stewart told the board the committee met June 3 and recommended tabling the matter until after the July break to allow time for additional consideration and revisions. “As such, the participating committee members recommend that the full board vote the full the 4 excuse me, recommended the full board table this evening's vote on this policy until after the board's July break,” Branch Stewart said.

Board member Verdi strongly objected to the policy’s current language and the committee process. “My voice and opinion is not welcome in the policy committee,” Verdi said. She described the existing draft as likely to “stifle essential open and robust dialogue” and urged the board and the committee to reject policy 0164.1 as written.

Committee materials and the chair’s report indicate the committee debated substantive tweaks to 0164.1 based on feedback from the May board meeting and that the committee will revisit the policy after the break. The board did not take a final vote on the policy at the meeting; the committee’s recommendation to table was reported during committee reports and will return to the board agenda after summer break for further consideration.

The public-record committee report also said the policy committee plans to revisit the district strategic plan after the July break and is exploring ways to increase stakeholder engagement in policy work. No formal amendments to policy 0164.1 were adopted at the meeting.