Nazareth School Board Limits Public Comment

Public comment per speaker at Nazareth Area School Board meetings. Seven of nine sitting school board members support the idea, while the man about to take a seat on the board next month strongly disagrees.

The district school board on Monday adopted a revised policy on public comment -- an issue since the board proposed to modify the policy last month.

The original proposal called for an overall limit of 30 minutes total public comment time: 15 minutes each for agenda and non-agenda items, to be divided among those who signed in to speak. The policy as passed Monday does not place a time limit on public comment overall.

Board members say the time limit -- which can be modified at the board's discretion “on an ad hoc basis,” per the newly approved policy -- is designed to allow all speakers a chance to address their concerns to the board and to allow meetings to proceed in an orderly fashion.

Incoming board member does not see it that way.

Miller, who will take his seat on the school board next month after winning election on Nov. 8, lambasted his soon-to-be colleagues on Monday, telling them they “should be ashamed” of themselves for passing the policy.

“It boggles my mind,” Miller said after board member Darrell Crook moved to approve the new policy. (Crook had voiced concerns about the original policy revision proposed in October.)

“The First Amendment includes freedom of speech,” Miller continued. “There is no time limit on it.”

Miller pointed out that the board has the authority to curb disruptive behavior from out-of-control speakers, to the point of having them removed from the room, if needed. The time limit will place a burden on those who are not comfortable with public speaking, he added.

“There is absolutely no need to put a three-minute limit” on public comment, Miller said.

Board members Thomas Maher and Kenneth Butz voted against the revised policy. In brief remarks after the meeting, Maher said he thought the policy change is “not necessary.”

Maurice Heller, board vice president, said the policy revision is all about fairness.

“Time limits have everything to do with letting everyone have a chance… and to keep order,” Heller said.

The revised policy also requires prospective speakers to place their names on a sign-in sheet. In a change from the policy as proposed last month, however, there will be no deadline for speakers to sign up.

Public comment -- without a sign-up sheet stipulation -- is required for motions that arise from business not listed on the meeting agenda distributed to the public, noted Superintendent Victor Lesky.

For example, neither the revision to the public comment policy -- under Old Business -- nor the selection of Dennis Riker -- under New Business -- was specifically listed on the advance agenda.