Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Public Still Not Informed

On March 31 the Richland 2 School Board voted to suspend Board Policy BEDH until April 30. This policy is the "Public Participation at Meetings" policy. It explains how the public can comment at board meetings and it also provides the mechanicism by which the public can request an item or issue be placed on the agenda for a board meeting.

Where can you find Policy BEDH?

Go to www.Richland2.org
At the top right click on EXPLORE
Click on School Board
Click on BOARD POLICIES
On the left side, click on B - SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS
Scroll down to Policy BEDH - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT MEETINGS

When BEDH was suspended temporarily on March 31, you the Public lost your voice. No longer would you be able to attend Board meetings and address the board for three minutes. No longer could you present topics to be placed on the agenda for a board meeting; subject to the consent of the Board Chair and the superintendent, of course.

The temporary suspension of BEDH ended April 30, 2020.

Then, on May 12 the Board decided to suspend BEDH - period. Indefinitely. Permanently. Forever. Unless, of course, it comes to its senses and restores it, or the Public files a legal action against the Board and demands it.

But the District has never properly informed the public. If you go to the Board Policies right now, you will see nothing that indicates that BEDH has been suspended.

Why not?

Is this a failure of transparency?

Could it be that the parents of 28,000 students would object?

Could it be that thousands of voters, including Amelia McKie's "26,000" who voted for her (as she so proudly stated at a past meeting) would rise up and say, "JUST YOU WAIT ONE DAMNED MINUTE!"

I can't do this alone, folks. If you care about Richland School District Two, you have to start paying attention and acting by getting involved.

One way you can do this is to contact the District AND make a comment below that you have done so. Otherwise, your communication will just be swallowed up in that grand edifice at 763 Fashion Drive, never to see the light of day.