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Board rejects revision to public-comment policy after heated debate over access and communication sessions
Summary
The Poudre School District Board of Education voted down proposed changes to policy GP 3.13 that would have replaced one monthly public-comment session with a two-way communication session; the motion failed 2–5 after several board members and public speakers argued for preserving in-meeting public comment and expanding remote access
The Poudre School District Board of Education voted 2–5 on Aug. 26 to reject proposed revisions to board policy GP 3.13, a second reading that would have removed one of two monthly public-comment opportunities and replaced it with a communication session intended for two-way dialogue.
Board member Connor Duffy moved to approve the revisions; the motion was seconded and discussed at length. Supporters described communication sessions as structured opportunities for two-way engagement; opponents said removing a regular public-comment slot would reduce accessible, democratic input and could silence some constituents.
Public speakers before the vote urged the board to preserve or expand community access. Parent Tori Pappas said reducing community comment “just doesn’t feel like the right move” and urged remote comment options. Teacher Kim Carlson thanked the district for implementing the heat protocol but said she valued public comment for accountability. Several commenters representing families of students with disabilities — including Danny Lawrence and Sabrina Herrick — objected to any move that they said would limit protected advocacy, citing federal protections for parents who advocate for special-education students.
Board members’ comments split along lines of trade-offs between meeting efficiency and access. Connor Duffy said he favored more efficient working sessions and broader discussion but ultimately opposed the amendment at roll call; other board members, including Andrew Spain and Jessica Zamora, said they would vote to keep public-comment frequency and explore additional communication avenues such as listening sessions and remote comment.
The board president asked for a roll-call vote. The motion to adopt the proposed GP 3.13 revisions failed by a 2–5 margin, and the existing public-comment policy remains in effect.
Ending: Directors said they will continue adding listening sessions and engagement opportunities outside formal board meetings and will refine meeting structure to provide both meaningful discussion time and preserve public comment.
