Public comment is again part of the agenda of the regular monthly Hastings School Board meetings.
The ISD #200 Board on Wednesday night unanimously approved a policy change that will allow citizens to speak to the board in regular session with comments aired on the Hastings Community TV live stream.
Public comment was taken off the board agenda in August 2021 by a previous school board. Citizens were welcome to speak to two board members in a room adjacent to the Hastings Middle School Media Center, where board meetings are held, prior to the meeting.
Late last year, the school board voted to hold public comment before the entire board 15 minutes before the regular meetings, but the comments were not aired live or recorded.
An initiative of several board members was to bring public comment back to the meeting when this board year started in January.
Under the policy language:
• “The school board will not engage in discussion or provide responses during this time, however, may respond at a later time and/or direct administration to follow up with the speaker.”
• “To be recognized, those who want to participate in public comments must complete the Public Participation at School Board meetings Procedures and Request and submit their request via email or drop it off at the district office no later than 8 a.m. on the day prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting. If a group or organization wishes to address the school board on a topic, one representative shall be designated as the speaker.”
• “Only those speakers recognized by the school board will be allowed to speak. Comments by others are out of order. Individuals who interfere with or interrupts speakers, school board or the proceedings may be directed to leave.”
• “Matters which may involve preliminary allegations or which may be potentially libelous or slanderous in nature shall not be considered in public but shall be processed as determined by the school board in accordance with governing law.”
The live feed will be cut immediately if any speaker violates state or federal law or rights of privacy.
• “Personal attacks by anyone addressing the school board are unacceptable. Persistence in such remarks by an individual shall terminate that person’s privilege to address the school board.”
After brief discussion at the meeting last week, Chair Carrie Tate called for the vote.
“The motion passes unanimously to adopt Policy 206, which again means that we will have public comment back into the regular portion of the meeting agenda and be televised,” she said.
