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Committee releases bill to require remote public participation options at school board meetings
Summary
House Bill 64 would require school boards to provide remote access options that allow two-way public participation, not merely viewing; supporters cited equity and pandemic lessons while administrators warned of local costs and potential disruptions.
Representative Romer sponsored House Bill 64 to amend Title 14 of the Delaware Code to ‘‘ensure that school board meetings provide a remote access option for the public, not just to watch, but to engage in public comment,’’ she told the committee.
Supporters said remote participation increases accessibility for parents, staff and community members juggling schedules or with mobility limitations. Yvonne Johnson, president of the National PTA, told the committee that virtual participation increases family engagement: "We all want the same thing, more community participation." Taylor Hawk of the Delaware State Education Association expressed similar support.
Administrators raised concerns about cost and moderation. Tammy Kirche, executive director of the Delaware Association of School Administrators, said most districts currently use livestreams rather than interactive platforms and that moving to interactive systems ‘‘would be cost moving to an interactive platform, as well as cost for having someone oversee the platform during the meetings.’’ David Toll of the Delaware School Boards Association said some members worry about potential for remote disruption and questioned whether the legislature would fund the change.
Kylie Thompson of the Controller General’s office said the bill did not initially have a fiscal note for state appropriations; on initial review the office did not flag state-level expenditures but will re-evaluate local costs after hearing testimony. She said typical cost would be absorbed locally, and a fiscal note would be added if local expenditures are required.
Committee members debated whether requirements should be state-prescribed or left to local control. Representative Romer said she did not intend to over-regulate platforms and wants school boards to ‘‘operate in good faith.’’ The committee voted and the motion carried to release HB 64 from committee.
Why it matters: The bill would create a consistent statewide floor for remote, two-way public participation at school board meetings; proponents framed the change as an equity measure while opponents cited unfunded local costs and moderation risks.
What’s next: The committee released HB 64. The Controller General’s office said it will review whether a fiscal note should be attached to reflect local implementation costs.
