Several topics were discussed at last night's school board meeting.
One issue involved students not receiving the same Chromebooks they turned in. Dr. Milligan explained that they originally planned to replace the devices due to Apple's discontinuation of support for the current operating system. However, they later decided to continue using the existing Chromebooks, extending their lifespan. Additionally, a grant for social studies leisure reading books was questioned for lacking diversity. The board was asked to consider providing a more varied selection.
Other meeting items included field trip funding and policy first reads. Although the policies were not read aloud, the board did discuss them. Amanda proposed a motion to waive fees for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeals. Colleen objected to this, and she was the only board member to vote against it. James expressed concerns about setting a precedent, while Michael emphasized the resource demands of FOIA requests and the board's role in reviewing appeals. Amanda clarified that fee waivers would be considered on a case-by-case basis and would be granted if the information benefited the community. Ultimately, the fee waiver for FOIA appeals was approved.
In a significant development, the board finally passed a resolution to support a full investigation into the shooting that occurred on November 30, 2021. This decision came after nearly three years and involved a majority of new board members. President Dr. Erin Reis was absent from the meeting due to being out of town.
The resolution process was somewhat confusing, as three resolutions were initially mentioned but only one was voted on and passed. Some attendees believed that the other resolutions were less significant or included in the passed resolution. However, the exact relationship between the resolutions was not clarified, and the public did not have access to the full text of any of them prior to the meeting.
Amanda proposed an amendment to the passed resolution related to emergency services. Due to the lack of prior access to the resolution, it was difficult for the public to understand the specific details of the amendment. Colleen strongly opposed the amendment, stating that she would not support further investigation into the school. The amendment was ultimately defeated, with only Whitney and Amanda voting in favor.
Acheson successfully amended the resolution to clarify references to news articles that discussed the timeline and funding for an after-action review.
The resolution was finally passed unanimously, although the wording remains open to interpretation. While the resolution does not explicitly name the school for investigation, it does call for an investigation of emergency services. Many attendees sought clarification, and Amanda later confirmed that her interpretation included the school as part of an agency. Amanda read the full resolution into the meeting notes, and it was nice to see an emotional reaction from Michael (newest board member) .
as always it''s worth watching public comment scheduled and unscheduled as it's often filled with useful information on the way things are suppose to be done and proper procedures.
This is the start. We need to continue to let legislators know, we need this investigation & finally the BOE is on board, and wont stonewall it.
Comments