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School board debates allowing non‑agenda public comments and requiring attorney at contract deliberations
Summary
Board members on Jan. 6 debated proposed changes to public-comment rules (allowing 3 minutes for non-agenda comments, limited to the first 10 signups) and a policy to require the board attorney's presence during deliberations on director employment contracts; members split on placement of comments (start vs. end) and on precise wording requiring counsel.
A pair of governance policy proposals prompted extended debate at the Southern County School Board's Jan. 6 study session: (1) whether to allow public comment on non-agenda items, and (2) whether to require the board attorney to be present during deliberations on employment-contract matters for the director of schools.
Proposal 1 — non-agenda public comment: A board member read proposed language to amend Policy 1.404 to add a public-comment period at the beginning of regular meetings and to permit citizens to speak on non-agenda items for up to three minutes, limited to the first 10 sign-ups. The proposed wording also would give the chair authority to rule whether a non-agenda topic is germane to the board's jurisdiction. Supporters said the change restores opportunities for constituents to place…
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