Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Policies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public comment criticizes board transparency as members review visitor conduct, employment checks and immigration policy first reads
Summary
A resident called for an apology over a recent personnel settlement and criticized proposed district support for immigrant students as the board presented several policy revisions for first read.
During the public-comment period at the Jan. 14 Norwich Board of Education meeting, resident Joanne Philbrook urged the board to apologize to taxpayers over “a lengthy and very expensive debacle” involving the former superintendent and criticized the presence of city council liaisons. She specifically addressed an agenda item titled “welcoming immigration and refugee communities and protection of undocumented students,” saying she took the language as a personal affront and asking whether the district would refuse to follow directives from ICE.
“I believe that you, the board of education, owe the rate, the taxpayers of this city, an apology and an explanation after a lengthy and very expensive debacle,” Philbrook said. On the immigration item she asked: “Does that mean that you will not be following the directives of ICE … ? I take it as a personal affront.”
Earlier in the meeting the board chair read aloud public-comment rules and said the board would not engage in back-and-forth during the public-comment period. The chair also noted that policy changes discussed at the meeting remain subject to the policy committee and to future board votes: the visitor-observation policy, employment and student-teacher checks, the revised family medical leave changes under EFMLA, a social-media policy for personnel, and a new policy described as welcoming immigration and refugee communities were presented for first read.
In describing the visitor-observation policy, a board committee member emphasized the intent to welcome parents while also making clear that “disrespect to staff will not be tolerated,” and said signage reminding visitors of expectations will be implemented. On the deletion of an “increasing educator diversity plan,” staff said the change reflects a new state reporting requirement rather than a local policy.
The board did not take votes on the policy items during the first read and the administration noted that the policy committee will bring finalized language back for a future vote.
