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Community Corner

Public Comment Removed From SK SC Work Sessions

The latest post from Jonathan Daly-Labelle's blog.

The following phrase has been eliminated from the standard South Kingstown School Commitee Work Session agenda:

“Interested persons and the public at large will be given a fair opportunity to be heard at said meeting on the items proposed on the agenda. Questions or comments will be limited to a total of three (3) minutes unless otherwise voted by the School Committee.”

For as long as I have been involved, this stock phrase has been a part of the work sessions.  It was not part of the Sept. 25 session, and neither the Chair, nor any of the members, allowed or called for the four or five community members in attendance to speak to the agenda item – PARCC Assessment.

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This was not part of the bylaw amendments recently enacted.  This appears to be an distinctly separate move, and I'm unsure if a vote by the school committee was needed (or taken) for this change.

This is the way to “Engage All Stakeholders” and encourage, welcome, and respect public participation?

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Oh, my… What’s next?

Editor’s note – The views of Jonathan are strictly his own, and do not necessarily reflects the thoughts and opinions of Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch editors. Post adapted from the original entry on his blog, with his permission, with minor edits for style and grammar.

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