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Public raises Sunshine Act, attachments and streaming concerns as board approves consent agenda
Summary
Multiple public commenters criticized the board for not posting draft minutes and other agenda attachments to BoardDocs before the meeting and asked the district to live-stream and indefinitely store recordings. The board approved the consent agenda; objections were recorded.
Public commenters at the Souderton Area School District board meeting repeatedly pressed the board to post agenda attachments in advance, to provide meeting livestreaming, and to preserve meeting recordings indefinitely.
A commenter who identified a Sunshine Act objection told the board, "No draft minutes have been presented on board docs or on the district website for the public to view prior to tonight's meeting," and said that some action items, including minutes and resolutions, lacked attachments. The commenter asked that objections be noted in the minutes and requested that draft minutes and agenda materials be posted at least 24 hours in advance.
Maureen Kratz of Lower Salford voiced similar concerns: "I'm pleading with the board to just provide attachments, do the bare minimum, just so we're all aware," and pointed to multiple items that were in the consent agenda without attached documents, including tax-collector responsibilities and a multi-year security guard compensation plan.
Corinne Dejazo (Upper Salford) said she had requested live streaming and indefinite storage of meeting recordings at 10 of the last 12 board meetings since December 2023 and asked the board again to "please store meeting recordings indefinitely" and to "consistently post all of the attachments to the agendas." Dejazo said lack of access made it difficult for community members to participate unless physically present.
Board President acknowledged that a Sunshine Act objection had been raised and told speakers the objection would be noted in the minutes. The board subsequently approved its consent agenda (items 7.2''through 7.17) by voice vote. The transcript does not show the board committing to the specific posting, livestreaming, or storage changes requested by the commenters.
Speakers also cited the district's paid membership in the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and asked that the district use PSBA model policies and post updated policies online.
The meeting record shows the public raised procedural and transparency concerns repeatedly during public comment; the board recorded the Sunshine Act objection and approved the consent agenda in the same meeting.
