FCPS to require ID verification and online sign-ups for public comment at board meetings

Frederick County Public Schools said it will require people who wish to speak at board meetings to sign up online and verify a Frederick County connection before speaking.

A board member explained the change is being implemented to address safety and crowding concerns. Under the updated practice described at the committee meeting, sign-ups will be online; speakers will check in in the lobby with the district's Raptor identification system; those who want to speak must show state-issued identification and, if the address on their ID is not in Frederick County, provide a secondary document such as a mortgage bill, deed or business license to establish standing to speak.

"We were starting to have a problem out there," the board member said, describing situations at prior meetings where large crowds formed and people who had not signed up took space needed for registered speakers. The committee said the district will reserve two rows of seats for registered speakers, will open doors at 5:30 p.m. and will direct entrants to the main office for security screening.

The committee discussed that the measures were not designed to prevent citizens from attending meetings, but to ensure the safety of students, staff and attendees. The board member noted the changes were partly prompted by one frequent speaker who has used profanity and created hostile confrontations, but emphasized the policy was developed with input from a range of stakeholders.

What will change: in practice, people will still be allowed to attend even if they are not county residents, but only verified Frederick County residents, students or parents will be allowed to speak. The district already uses the Raptor system at its school buildings, and officials said the process will align board meetings with building security standards.

Next steps: the committee expects to implement the updated public-comment procedures at the next board meeting and to review how the process works. Members said they expect additional feedback and that some tweaks may follow after implementation.