Board changes public-comment rules and approves procurement including cafeteria credit-card payments

The Brevard Public School Board adopted a procedural change to public comment and approved multiple procurement items, including a new point-of-sale (POS) system that will allow families and students to pay for school meals with credit cards.

A board member moved to split public-comment time so that speakers addressing agenda items speak during the agenda portion and non-agenda speakers are moved to the end of the meeting; the motion, as amended, limited speakers to three minutes at both the agenda and non-agenda comment periods and set a policy that cameras would be turned off and the meeting adjourned after non-agenda public comment concludes. The motion, seconded and amended on the floor, passed on roll call with all board members recorded as voting yes.

Separately, the board approved procurement solicitations listed in the agenda. During discussion of procurement solicitations, a board member highlighted a forthcoming change in food and nutrition services: the approved solicitation includes new software for food-nutrition point-of-sale terminals, enabling credit-card and electronic payments at cafeterias and concession stands. "Very soon... you will have the opportunity to pay with a credit card," the board member said, praising the technology upgrade. The procurement motion passed by roll call.

Other routine items approved on the action agenda included department- and school-initiated agreements and administrative staff recommendations; consent agenda items were approved earlier in the meeting by roll call as recorded in meeting minutes.