Santa Rosa school board reviews major rewrite of meeting policy, debates closed-session attendees and speaker rules

The Santa Rosa County School Board on March 11 reviewed a comprehensive draft rewrite of Policy 2.22, which expands the district's formal meeting rules and sparked discussion about who may attend closed sessions, how public comment is limited and what the written minutes should contain.

Board members said the rewrite, which increases the written policy from roughly three pages to nine, attempts to codify current practice but needs clearer language on closed sessions and public participation.

The draft defines meeting types (regular, special, emergency and closed) and adds procedures for public comment forms, speaker time limits and basic safety measures at the podium. Board members questioned a provision that says closed sessions "shall be conducted with only the school board, the superintendent, school board attorneys, appropriate staff members, and advisers present," asking the board to define "appropriate staff members." Board attorney Mr. Harmon told the board the statute governing closed bargaining sessions permits the superintendent (the public officer or CEO) to have…