Friday, April 9, 2021

Poor Timing for Session

 From Richland 2:

BUDGET INPUT SESSION

A Budget Input Session for the Richland School District Two community will be held 5-5:30 p.m. on April 13, 2021 in the Conference Center at R2i2 located at 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia, 29229.

 

The Richland Two Board of Trustees and district administrators are holding the input session to give employees, parents, students and community members the opportunity to provide suggestions for next year’s budget. The suggestions shared during the input session will be considered during the development process of the FY 2021-2022 General Fund Budget. A timeline for the budget development process is available on the district’s website at: https://www.richland2.org/Departments/Business-Services/General-Fund-Budget

 

All individuals in attendance at the input session will be required to wear masks and observe social-distancing protocols.


Now, why the District insists on holding a Budget Input session at 5:00PM, I can only guess. Many parents are working people and probably work until at least 5:00PM. Thus, there is no way to show up for a 5:00PM community meeting. Is there? There is also the "dinner-hour" with family to consider. 

And then there is a half-hour, cool-your-heels break until the Regular Board Meeting starts.

Why doesn't the Board hold the Budget Input Session as the first half-hour of the regularly-scheduled Board meeting? Usually almost no one shows up for it, so all they are doing to going through the formality of announcing the Session, knowing that no one will show up.

The District's announcement reads that "All individuals in attendance" must wear masks. Will that apply to Teresa Holmes?