Directors scrap workshop sessions and restore committees, will allow public comment at all meetings.

By Christopher Baxter | OF THE MORNING CALL

The Easton Area School Board sidestepped a growing firestorm lit last week when it banned public comment at workshop meetings by scrapping the workshops and reinstating several committees that will welcome public input.

The unanimous decision to return to the committees — a format used in the past to discuss items such as finance, policy and buildings and grounds — came as community members mobilized to challenge the public comment ban should the board not change course.

"Right now this is an ugly situation that has happened in the workshops," Director Kerry Myers said.

He added that the board will be able to get a lot more accomplished using the committee format.

The board at its workshop last week silenced the public to shorten its meeting and get more accomplished, but ended up getting little done because school directors feared they might violate the state Sunshine Act by deliberating on agenda items.

District Solicitor Alan McFall said last week the board did not violate the law.

That prompted residents and neighborhood groups Thursday to speak out in anger.

The College Hill Neighborhood Association opposed the public comment ban and called on the school board to reverse its position, according to a prepared statement from organization President Hubert Etchison.

Troy Reynard, owner of the Cosmic Cup Coffee Co., also called on the school board to repeal the comment ban. He spoke out during the workshop last week, when the board did not allow public comment, and was asked to sit down by a district police officer.

According to the state Sunshine Act, "any person has the right to raise an objection at any time to a perceived violation" of the law.

"Ms. Fisher, I'll buy you a cup of coffee when you come to apologize to me," Reynard said, speaking to Board President Patricia Fisher.

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association also came under fire from residents who learned last week the Easton school board took its direction on the public comment ban from the statewide nonprofit formed in 1895 to assist school directors and other district officials.

"I would like very much for our board to be very careful about its involvement and the guidance and direction it takes from that body, at least at this time," resident Curt Ehly said.

In other business, the school board sent a proposed class size policy to committee for review. The policy would set class sizes in kindergarten through fourth grade at no more than 25 students, and sizes in fifth grade through 12th grade at no more than 30 students.

The policy would also set a minimum of 15 students per class.

Some board members expressed concern that the policy would allow the administration to bend those rules and wanted to revisit the wording before final consideration.

Also, the school board approved reinstating one junior high wrestling team as a club program. The team was cut from the 2010-11 budget, but the Easton Wrestling Booster Club has raised the $6,000 necessary to pay for the program this year.