The Examiner U-46 News FeedU-46 compromises on ban of anonymous comments By Seth Hancock
The Board of Education in School District U-46 unanimously approved, via a 7-0 vote, of changes to Policy 2:230, concerning public comments at board meetings, at its Monday, Nov. 7 meeting.
Included was new language attempting to limit anonymous comments to be made at board meetings.
Initially, Superintendent Tony Sanders said he requested to have a ban on anonymous public comments into the policy, a request that came after an anonymous teacher’s critical comments on the district were read at a September board meeting.
The language eventually added to the policy does not ban but rather requests anonymous comments not be made.
“The Board encourages any individual who wishes to remain anonymous while providing public comment to utilize two tools provided for public input to the Board of Education: Let’s Talk! (available on the main page of the District’s website: u-46.org) or the Board of Education’s email address: Board@u-46.org,” the policy now states.
The original language banning anonymous comments was never provided publicly, but board member Dawn Martin said she “appreciate[s] that we kind of reworded it to make it not sound like we would be punishing people,” and she heard “from some of the public that they were concerned on the changes.”
When the changes were presented at the Oct. 24 meeting, board members Veronica Noland and Eva Porter both said there were many legitimate reasons for anonymous public comments.
Most board members supported banning anonymous public comments but questioned the ability of the district to enforce such a ban.
Most of the other changes to the policy were minor language changes. There was also an added line that states: “If multiple individuals wish to address the Board on the same subject, the group is encouraged to appoint a spokesperson.”
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