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Resident alleges he was denied chance to speak at recent town hall; board members say apology accepted
Summary
A resident, Willie Harmon, told the school board he was denied the opportunity to speak at an Oct. 30 town hall by a board member; board members in attendance said the meeting was collegial, that Harmon had time to speak and that his apology was accepted.
Willie Harmon, a Susquehanna Township resident, used the board’s public-comment period on Nov. 3 to say he had been denied permission to address a district town hall on Oct. 30 by a board member. "Miss Jackie Hill denied myself," Harmon said. He told the board his intent that night had been to apologize to the district and warned that perceived silencing at public meetings can lead to tension.
Board members and administration who attended the Oct. 30 town hall responded during the same agenda item. A staff member and board members said the town hall tone had been collegial, that Mr. Harmon did have extended time to speak and that his apology had been accepted by those on the dais: "you did have an extended period of time to make your comments and you did make your apology," a board member said in response.
The exchange was limited to public comment and board members did not take action or launch an investigation at the meeting. The board reminded the public of its public-comment rules (three minutes per speaker, noninteractive) and urged concerns to follow the chain of command for building-level matters first. No formal complaint or further disciplinary action was recorded in the meeting minutes included in the public record.
