After hearing opposition, Columbia school board approves limits to public comment at meetings

A split vote by the Columbia Board of Education on Monday to limit public comment at its meetings followed lots of public comment in opposition to the new policy.

Suzette Waters, Helen Wade, Jeanne Snodgrass, Chris Horn and David Seamon voted in favor of the policy. Blake Willoughby and Katherine Sasser voted against.

Details of the policy changes were hashed out in a policy committee meeting last month, but there were more changes before the school board vote.

The opposition to the policy change began as soon as it was proposed.

The new policy will limit all public comment at meetings to 30 minutes, where previously there was no limit.

Commenters must register in advance of the meeting, including their names and the topic or topics on which they plan to speak. A change to the wording eliminated the phrase "up to the start of the meeting," but it's not clear if registering in advance includes up to the start of the meeting.

Those commenting on items to be voted on at the meetings will be prioritized, with those speaking on other school-related topics allowed to speak if there is time. Speakers will continue to have three minutes to make their points.

In another change, speakers can speak at consecutive meetings if they're commenting about items that will be voted on, but must skip a meeting after commenting at two consecutive meetings about other school-related topics.

Some issues may come up as the new policy is put in place, Snodgrass said before the vote.

"There's probably going to be some hiccups," she said.

With all the amendments, the board members can't understand what they're voting on, said Emery Wakefield during public comment. Wakefield, a former student, works in nutrition services for the school district.

Wakefield presented data that only three meetings went past 10:30 p.m. during COVID-19, with the longest on Sept. 9, 2019, going to 11:37 p.m., before COVID.

Public comment at some meetings, particularly during the height of the pandemic, sometimes lasted more than an hour and sometimes was heated.

"I valued my experience as a high school student making public comments at school board meetings," Wakefield said.

Battle High School teacher Mechelle Neuerburg was another vocal opponent.

"I strongly object to the 30-minute time limit," Neuerburg said. "When the public cares enough to pack this room, you need to hear them. It's your role to hear the public."

No one with the school district ever follows up on comments, which is why people return to the school board again and again, said parent Chrystal Blauvelt.

The policy has succeeded in unifying factions in the community, said John Potter, who speaks at almost every meeting.

"We have the whole community not agreeing with this policy," Potter said.

Parent Tara Arnett, who spoke against the new policy before the vote, spoke again after the vote, saying the change was self-serving.

"You don't value, respect or represent us," Arnett said.

Boone County Nature School

The school board approved a bid of $6.5 million from Verslues Construction Co. of Jefferson City to build a nature school. Construction is to be complete by Jan. 1, 2024, according to the agreement.

Funding comes from Columbia Public Schools, the Missouri Department of Conservation and community fundraising.

Related to this project, the school board approved lease financing for the school board's $2.5 million share of the cost.

Bond sale authorized

The school board voted to approve a resolution authorizing the sale of $40 million in general obligation bonds and refinancing 2014 bonds.

"This is the first $40 million of the bond issue approved by voters in April," said Heather McArthur, chief financial officer.

The bond sale is scheduled for Oct. 12.

Suicide Prevention Month

In acknowledging suicide prevention month, board member Blake Willoughby said he struggled with thoughts of suicide as a teenager, but again as a school board member during the height of the pandemic, when he received emails and calls calling him every profanity imaginable.

He began to think maybe he deserved to be stripped of his humanity, he said.

As an adult, he said he knew how to access the proper resources. He wanted students to know they're not alone, he said.

"Please tell an adult," he said. "Please tell any adult in your life that you're feeling this way."

The suicide prevention hotline — 988 — is another option to which students can turn, he said.

Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia Board of Education votes to limit public comment at meetings