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Brevard school board moves non‑agenda public comment to end of meetings, votes to stop televising those remarks
Summary
The Brevard Public Schools board voted unanimously Jan. 21 to separate agenda from non‑agenda public comments and to not televise the non‑agenda portion, following legal advice after a recent federal appellate decision.
The Brevard Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to separate agenda items from non‑agenda public comment and to hold non‑agenda remarks at the end of meetings without being televised.
Board chair opened discussion after a workshop earlier in the week prompted concern about how to comply with a recent Eleventh Circuit decision. Board attorney advised that the district could “bifurcate the two different non agenda versus agenda, and then take the non agenda to the end and not televised.”
That advice led to an initial motion to separate agenda from non‑agenda comments and a follow‑on amendment to stop live broadcasting the non‑agenda portion for the interim while district policy is revised. Board member Thomas voted “Aye,” as did board members Campbell, Wright, Trent and Susan; both the amendment and the main motion passed 5‑0.
Board members said the change is a temporary measure while staff undertakes a policy revision. One board member described the court decision as allowing speakers to use profane or personally directed language during public comment, and said the district’s intent is to continue public access while protecting staff and preserving decorum. The board emphasized that the change does not eliminate public comment; it changes timing and the broadcast format.
Board chair said the district will return to the topic when a revised policy is drafted and noted some counties already handle public comment in a similar way. The chair also said the board intends to allow the public to speak more than once in a meeting under the new format and that the move responds to requests from community members who said they do not feel comfortable being broadcast when discussing sensitive matters.
The board did not adopt a final written policy at the meeting; members said staff will prepare formal policy amendments for a future agenda.
The vote tally for the amendment to remove cameras from the non‑agenda public comment portion was: Thomas — Aye; Campbell — Aye; Wright — Aye; Trent — Aye; Susan — Aye. The subsequent vote on separating agenda and non‑agenda comments at the end of the meeting recorded the same roll‑call result.
