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Board discusses retiring electronic-attendance policy; members split on keeping emergency Zoom option
Summary
York City School Board discussed retiring or amending Policy 6.1 (electronic attendance) after four years of remote meeting use; several members favored retiring routine Zoom attendance while leaving a narrow emergency clause for declared emergencies.
The York City School Board discussed whether to retire or amend Board Policy 6.1, which permits board members and, in some cases, members of the public to participate in meetings via electronic means.
President Kennedy opened the discussion by noting the policy was created during the COVID-19 period and asked the board whether it should remain in force. "In the past prior to COVID we would just cancel the meeting and reschedule it," Kennedy said, noting the policy contains multiple provisions including allowances for illness, travel, and, separately, declared emergencies such as a city or county snow emergency.
Director Soupler said she favors keeping the public'engagement option, arguing electronic access can surface new voices and allow students and residents to participate. "Sometimes there's something brand new," she said, urging caution about removing public participation channels.
Other board members said they rarely see public participants join by Zoom and expressed a preference for requiring physical presence for directors. One director said the board had not had public Zoom participation in years and recommended retiring routine electronic attendance as unused.
Attorney Gettle advised that any amendment should be precise about the conditions that allow remote participation. The board expressed general support for an amendment that would remove routine Zoom participation but retain a narrow emergency clause tied to an official emergency declaration (for example, a county or city snow emergency). Members also asked administration and counsel to prepare a separate resolution addressing public participation via electronic means if the board chooses to retire the broader Policy 6.1.
Why it matters: The change would set expectations for director attendance and shape how the public can observe and participate in board meetings going forward. Board members noted a tension between encouraging public access and maintaining in-person deliberation.
Next steps: Administration and counsel will draft an amended policy or a proposal to retire Policy 6.1 and return to the October committee meeting; the board indicated a likely direction to retire routine electronic attendance while considering a narrow emergency exception and a separate approach for public participation.
