Residents press board over committee dissolutions and transparency; board defends monthly work sessions

Several residents urged the Revere Local Board of Education on Oct. 21 to restore or replace the district’s former standing committees for finance, legislation and facilities, saying the change reduces opportunities for detailed, line-by-line policy review and public input.

“I am deeply concerned that we are dissolving school board committees under policy 110 for finance legislation and facilities,” said Whitney, a resident and frequent speaker at board meetings, during the meeting’s public-comment period. Whitney said the loss of committee meetings had reduced the public’s access to detailed discussion on policy drafts and budget oversight and urged the board to create a contact point for citizens to raise concerns.

Board members and Superintendent Michael White (identified in meeting remarks as Mr. White) responded that the district has used monthly work sessions to provide the same public notice and broader board participation. “We have work session meetings every month, which give us the opportunity to talk about certain things if we need to talk about it,” White said, describing the work-session process as an attempt to increase transparency by putting items before all five board members rather than a two-member committee.

Board members said the committee changes were intended to ensure every board member receives the same information and that monthly work sessions are posted and open to the public. “The hope was to take it from a 2 person committee to somewhere that we could have more discussion,” one board member said during the meeting. Board members acknowledged the need to improve public notice and suggested constituents contact the superintendent’s office with policy questions.

The conversation also included complaints about rising legal fees and heavy public-records activity. Board members said the district faced an unusually large number of public-records requests and other legal matters over the past year and that those demands had contributed to higher legal costs; they also said the district has no control over the timing of some legal exposure. “We have had more records requests over the past year than we've ever had,” Board Treasurer Berdine said, explaining part of the increase in legal expenses.

Other residents and board members discussed the specific controversy that has driven public scrutiny — a prior release-time for religious instruction (RTRI) policy review and related public records requests. Speakers on both sides described a history of local disagreement over that policy and the board’s handling of it. Several board members said the district sought to increase transparency moving forward by posting policies and discussing them in work sessions so all five members hear the same presentation and the public can access recordings.

No board action was taken to reinstate standing committees or change the policy-notice process at the Oct. 21 meeting. Board members asked staff to continue making draft policies available and to make it easier for citizens to contact district staff with questions about policies and implementation.

Ending: The board scheduled its next work session for Nov. 11 and a regular meeting for Nov. 18; residents who asked to speak were encouraged to contact the superintendent’s office with policy questions so staff can respond in advance of board meetings.