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Parents urge return of broader public comment; board members say policies will be reviewed
Summary
Community members asked the Flagler County School Board on Jan. 28 to restore broader open public-comment opportunities and to allow parents recognized at awards ceremonies to offer brief remarks; board members said they will review the district’s public-comment procedures.
At the Jan. 28 Flagler County School Board meeting, members of the public urged a return to broader open public-comment opportunities and asked the board to give parents more chance to speak about their schools.
Chanel Channing, a community member, told the board that when awards are presented the audience often leaves before public comment and suggested the district invite parents who receive awards to speak briefly about their schools while they are present. She argued that mixing those positive remarks with open public comment would surface more authentic parent perspectives and empower parents who do not otherwise speak at meetings.
Former councilwoman Kathy Hyder and other speakers also attended and offered congratulations to staff and award recipients; their remarks were recorded during the public-comment segment.
Board response Multiple board members acknowledged the public comments and said the board is reviewing its public-comment procedures. One board member (identified in the transcript as Ms. Ruddy/Ms. Reddy) noted the need to prioritize agenda items that require votes and suggested that public commenters focused on those agenda items be heard first. Several board members said they value public input and reminded residents that the board is available outside of monthly meetings by email and direct contact for issues that are administrative or that need expedited attention.
Why it matters Public-comment procedures shape how parents, students and community members provide feedback to the board and how quickly concerns can be addressed. The board’s stated plan to review procedures could affect whether the district allows broader unscheduled public comment during future meetings or continues to rely on workshop discussions and email outreach for input.
Ending Board members encouraged community members to continue reaching out through email, calls and school-based channels and said the board will return to the topic of public-comment procedures at a future meeting or committee discussion.
