Board amends public-comment policy to reflect state law, keeps 48-hour notice and time limits

At its April 6 meeting the Bledsoe County Board of Education voted 4–3 to amend district policy 1.404 to incorporate the newly enacted Public Chapter 620 (House Bill 22), which expands the scope of permitted public comment to any matter germane to the board's jurisdiction.

Board members debated how to balance the statute's broader scope with operational readiness. Several members, including Mr. Perry and other supporters, said the board should keep a 48-hour sign-up requirement and continue three-minute speaker limits so administrators and members have time to research questions and provide accurate answers.

"I like the 48 hours notice," the chair said during discussion, arguing advance notice allows staff to prepare and prevents surprise requests that cannot be answered on the spot. Other members stressed the board's obligation to listen and that the policy changes should not unduly restrict constituents.

The motion amended policy 1.404 to add language incorporating the statute while retaining notice and time-limit provisions; it passed on a roll call vote recorded in the meeting minutes as four yeses and three nos. The administration will place the revised language in the policy manual and publish it publicly.

Board members emphasized the policy still allows the board to make case-by-case exceptions for urgent or unforeseen items, but they urged consistent application so the public knows how to engage with the board.

The amendment took immediate effect as the statute is already in force; the district will keep the existing notification and speaker-limits text in 1.404 while implementing the broader statutory standard.