York County School Board votes to remove board-member items from meeting agendas, 3-1

York County School Board members voted 3 to 1 on March 24 to remove “matters by board members” from the agenda for that meeting, a procedural change that drew a direct objection on free-speech grounds.

The change was proposed and moved by Mr. Pajevic and seconded by Mr. Schaefer. During discussion one board member objected that removing board-member items would “silence free speech” and deprive students of an example of respectful disagreement. The motion then passed 3 to 1, with Mrs. Fairman recorded as the dissenting vote.

Board Chair Mrs. Goodwin announced the outcome on the record. Later in the meeting the board approved revisions to Policy B, School Board Governance and Operations, in a separate recorded vote that also passed 3 to 1 with Fairman opposed.

Board members who moved and seconded the agenda amendment and the policy revision spoke to procedure; the recorded roll-call names were read aloud before each outcome. The minutes reflect that the board also convened a closed session later in the evening under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss advisory-committee appointments.

Supporters of keeping board-member items off the agenda did not place formal remarks on the record during the public portion of the meeting; the sole recorded public objection to the agenda change was by a board member who said the restriction amounted to silencing.

The procedural votes change how and when individual board members may place matters before the full board. Board members and members of the public raised concerns about transparency and the effect on public awareness as the votes were recorded.

The board’s action on Policy B will be reflected in the board manual; the chair said the revisions had no further changes since the previous reading.

The board moved into closed session later in the meeting to consider advisory-committee appointments as permitted under state law.