Public comment period eliminated from Easton Area School Board workshop meetings
(Easton) Express-Times staff
In what the school board describes as a time-saving measure, public comments will no longer be allowed at Easton Area School Board workshop meetings.
Board president Patricia Fisher said this is not an attempt to shut out the public. In the board's view, because no votes are held during workshop meetings -- typically the third Thursday of each month -- Sunshine laws do not require the board to allow public comment.
"The workshop meeting is really just the board's time to discuss things, and we don't have much time," Fisher said.
Mary Catherine Roper, staff attorney for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, disagrees.
"We think the Sunshine Act clearly requires public comment at any meeting where officials are deliberating," Roper said. "They don't have to come to a decision or vote."
Public comment periods will still be allowed at board meetings, which are held the fourth Thursday of every month.
At today's meeting, the school board will consider a class-size policy that would cap the number of students per class in kindergarten through fourth grade at 25, and limit students in fifth grade through 12th to 30 per class.
In what the school board describes as a time-saving measure, public comments will no longer be allowed at Easton Area School Board workshop meetings.
Board president Patricia Fisher said this is not an attempt to shut out the public. In the board's view, because no votes are held during workshop meetings -- typically the third Thursday of each month -- Sunshine laws do not require the board to allow public comment.
"The workshop meeting is really just the board's time to discuss things, and we don't have much time," Fisher said.
Mary Catherine Roper, staff attorney for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, disagrees.
"We think the Sunshine Act clearly requires public comment at any meeting where officials are deliberating," Roper said. "They don't have to come to a decision or vote."
Public comment periods will still be allowed at board meetings, which are held the fourth Thursday of every month.
At today's meeting, the school board will consider a class-size policy that would cap the number of students per class in kindergarten through fourth grade at 25, and limit students in fifth grade through 12th to 30 per class.
