Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents accuse board of poor communication after morning personnel action; board hears calls for transparency
Summary
Multiple speakers during public comment at the May 20 School Board of Manatee County meeting criticized the board for acting without transparency earlier that day and urged better communication with families about meetings and advisory processes.
Several parents and residents used the board’s May 20 public-comment period to criticize what they described as a lack of transparency after an earlier, same-day personnel action that drew public attention.
“Your actions can break the trust of the people who voted you into office when you act without transparency,” said Stephanie Beardsley, identified in the meeting as a parent, during public comment. Beardsley told the board she had planned to speak about another issue but changed her remarks after the morning event, adding that district emails are “fluff pieces” that omit material information such as meeting notices and advisory-committee work.
Kristen Duffy, a parent who said she learned about the morning meeting only 15 minutes before it began, echoed the call for clearer outreach to working parents. “I am incredibly frustrated at that lack of communication,” Duffy said. She said district and school emails had not informed families of the earlier session and urged the board to use school-level communications to reach parents.
Resident John Agnelli said he sympathized with board members but said the district appeared to have been unaware of “the house that was on fire.” He urged better advance notice so residents can participate or respond to major personnel decisions.
Board members acknowledged the comments during the meeting and said they would attempt to expand outreach for future surveys and notices, including pushing calendar and other public-input items to principals and school newsletters. Interim Superintendent Kevin Chapman later told the board he would publish rezoning maps and meeting schedules to the district rezoning webpage before community meetings begin the week of May 27.
None of the public commenters proposed a formal motion; their remarks were recorded as public comment. The board took no immediate procedural action at the May 20 meeting to change notice practices but discussed improved distribution for future surveys and calendar votes.
The board’s public-comment period ran at the start of the meeting; the speakers who raised transparency concerns spoke before later business items and votes were taken.
Ending: Public commenters said they will hold board members accountable in future elections if communication does not improve. Board members instructed staff to consider additional ways to notify families about surveys and special meetings.
