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Heated public-comment exchange leads USD 497 board to briefly move comments; board later restores slot
Summary
A contentious public-comment period, including extended interruptions and profanity from multiple speakers, prompted the board to vote to move public comment to the end of the agenda. After debate among members the board voted to restore public comment to its original place in the meeting.
Public comment at the Lawrence USD 497 school board meeting devolved into repeated interruptions and profanity, prompting board members to alter the meeting agenda and then reverse that change.
During the public-comment period Dr. Justin Spies and another in-person speaker disrupted the meeting with repeated interruptions and profanity. Board President Kelly Jones twice paused speakers’ time for disruptive behavior and warned attendees about decorum rules. "You are disrupting the meeting," Jones told a speaker as she paused the timer.
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