Starkville school board adjusts policy on public input
Bonnie Coblentz March 3, 2010 11:39:00 AM
The Starkville School District board may have said one thing in their business meeting Tuesday night but did another.
The board approved amendments to two policies that govern when their meeting agendas are drawn up and available to the public and how the public can participate in board meetings. This action came shortly after the board voted unanimously for a policy that 10 speakers and a room and hall full of people were opposed to.
Muttered comments heard in the crowd as the public involvement policies were being discussed indicated that at least some of those present thought they saw a discrepancy between the board's words and actions.
Ten members of the public were on the agenda to address the issue of school uniforms. All opposed the policy on a variety of reasons. The board voted unanimously to approve a school dress code before approving the changes that formalize public involvement in their meetings.
The major change is that the board will post their proposed agendas online on the Thursday before a regular board meetings on Tuesday. Members of the public will have until noon Friday to request an audience with the board, Superintendent Judy Couey explained.
“This policy will give the public more time to get on the agenda and speak to the issues,” Couey said.
DITTO! I've actually felt this way about several articles that have been publish in the last few weeks relating to Starkville School District. go figure.
This is just another nail in the coffin of the SSD. There racial makeup is just the tip of the iceberg. Check the list of retiring teachers, you will see some of the best are leaving this year. That coupled witht the PR nightmare, they huddled obviously and said we better circle the wagons and support our leader. Just the last gasp of the next city school district in the state to go under.
Isn't one of the main rules of journalism to be objective? This is the 2nd article I've read here today by Bonnie Coblentz that seems to put a negative light on the Starkville School Board while painting those who spoke at the meeting in a more positive light. The underlying tone of the articles is very transparent. What happened to just reporting the facts and leaving personal feelings out of the story?
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