Dover board debates whether to respond to anonymous emails
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Summary
Board members disagreed on responding to anonymous emails: Dr. Saner urged not to respond officially without a name and recommended the president seek identification; others said content may require investigation and proposed a written policy with president discretion.
Board members spent time discussing how the board should handle anonymous emails received by the district.
Doctor Saner said the board should not respond officially to anonymous notes unless a name is attached and suggested the president ask for identification: "this was my first anonymous email in 8 years... I think... the appropriate thing to do would be for the president to elicit a name to go with the email." Another member argued that every email should be acknowledged but agreed that anonymous messages need a name attached to be treated as a formal inquiry.
Other members said content should guide the response. One board member noted that anonymous reports could merit referral to the superintendent or proper authorities if they allege conduct that requires investigation. Several members recommended drafting a written policy under the governance or policy committee that gives the president discretion to acknowledge messages, refer potentially actionable reports for investigation, or decline to respond to rants.
No formal policy was adopted; the discussion ended with direction that the policy or governance committee review existing bylaws and bring recommended language back to the board.
