Avon Grove board discusses changing public-comment protocol, possible shift of superintendent report

Avon Grove School District board members and administrators discussed revising the district’s public-comment procedure at a retreat, including changes to the scripted statement read before public comment, a checkbox on the comment card to request a follow-up response, and a possible agenda order change to move the superintendent's report until after public comment.

Superintendent Scott described three goals from earlier feedback: validating comments when appropriate, offering next steps or follow-up, and addressing misinformation. He said a single fixed protocol will be difficult because comments vary in topic and intensity, and suggested a flexible, "live-and-learn" approach for responses.

Board members proposed specific measures: include brief language on the public-comment card allowing speakers to indicate they "would like a response" and their preferred contact method; add a line in the pre-comment statement that a brief response may be given by the superintendent or the board president and that fuller follow-up will be provided later; and consider moving the superintendent's report to after public comment so the superintendent may provide clarifications when appropriate.

One board member urged limiting back-and-forth during public comment and using one-on-one follow-up when more detail is needed. Another recommended sharing different districts' public-comment statements (Haverford Township and Wallingford-Swarthmore were cited) and returning to the committee of the whole in September with proposed language for Avon Grove’s statement and with recommendations for any procedural changes.

Administrators said they will check procedural rules with legal counsel and present sample pre-comment statements at the September committee meeting. The board discussed practical steps to ensure requested responses are tracked and not forgotten.