Residents challenge Fayette County school board’s public-comment limits and ask for follow-up on Facebook post and name-change

Residents used the public-comment period at the Fayette County Public Schools special called meeting to press the board on social-media communications, security measures and a contested name-change issue.

Lamar Hobson told the board he was displeased about a Facebook post by a board member and said he believed his First Amendment rights were being violated when he was not permitted to speak about the post during the meeting. Dr. McPherson responded that he had tried to allow additional time but that board policy requires public comments to relate directly to items on the agenda.

Hobson also raised concerns about a police officer carrying a weapon on school property and asked for the minutes from the meeting when security officers were hired. He referenced a court order connected to a name-change matter and requested a written follow-up from the district on that issue.

Elton Holmes argued that limiting public comments to agenda items infringed on First Amendment rights and asked for a written response on the district’s public-comment policy; he also asked for minutes related to hiring security officers. During the exchange, Chairman Warner Speakman asked that a sheriff’s officer be dispatched to the meeting.

Johnny Dotson questioned calling police for a verbal exchange and described the action as intimidating. He asked for the district’s policy on employee demotions and pay and questioned why the CTE building’s name should be changed if the program is accessible to all. Board member McGuire said she would locate the requested policy before the end of the meeting.

The board did not take formal action on the public-comment policy during the special called meeting. Several residents requested written follow-up and copies of minutes; board officials said they would provide responses and search for the requested policy documents following the meeting.