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Residents press board to hold regular policy-committee meetings; speakers question $10,000 PSBA contract and ask for improved meeting broadcasting
Summary
Residents asked the Souderton Area School District board to convene regular policy-committee meetings, questioned a roughly $10,000 contract with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to update the district policy manual, and urged changes to the broadcasting policy including advance submission of public comments and indefinite archival of recordings.
Several residents told the Souderton Area School District board it should hold more frequent policy-committee meetings and be more transparent about using outside consultants to update the district policy manual.
Alex Wisser of Upper Salford Township said that the district has fallen behind in updating its policy manual after years without regular committee meetings, and that the board should use the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) resources more consistently rather than contracting for piecemeal work. "After three years of consecutive tax increases at the maximum rate, our community deserves better than paying for memberships that go unused or fixes that could have been avoided with earlier action," Wisser said.
Corinne Dejizo, also of Upper Salford, said she is frustrated with the pace and priorities of policy updates and noted the district plans to enter a contract of approximately $10,000 with PSBA to update policies the association already provides as templates. "What is preventing this board from rolling up its sleeves and doing the work that our policies—and ultimately our students—demand?" she asked, urging greater efficiency and transparency.
Dejizo also asked the board to revise its broadcasting policy to allow community members to submit comments ahead of time—both to facilitate participation by those who cannot attend and to allow the district to confirm residency—and to indefinitely archive meeting recordings. "It is more beneficial to review the recording than read the minutes," she said, asking the district to assume the archival burden.
The administration acknowledged the PSBA contract was discussed at the policy committee and said the matter and the missing attachments would be addressed at an upcoming committee meeting. The board did not vote to change the broadcasting policy at this meeting; the requests were entered for consideration and referred to committee review.
Ending: The policy and broadcasting requests will be considered at the policy committee and during the scheduled second reading of policies.
