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Park City School District No Longer Taking Public Comments In Person

Park City School District

Last week, the Park City School Board announced it would not take public comments in person during school board meetings.

 

During the April 20 Park City Board of Education meeting, Board President Erin Grady cut the public input section short. Before the May 18 meeting, the board announced that they would not take in-person public input, but those wishing to address the board would have to submit their comments in writing by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting. Grady said the Board wants to hear from the public, but they also have obligations to stay on track with their monthly agenda.

 

“As a school board we are a business meeting that happens in public,” Grady said. “We are not a public meeting. So, when we go into our meetings, we have an agenda that is our business that we have to get done during that time. So, making sure that we're staying on the agendas and keeping the business moving forward is also our number one priority. We absolutely want to hear from the public. It's hard when it is getting off track, and that's why the last meeting, I decided to adjourn the public comment, and this time we just had a lot of business to get done." 

 

People may submit written public comments to communication@pcschools.us by 2:00 p.m. on the meeting day.  All comments will be reviewed by the board and made available within the meeting minutes.

 

In an email, Park City School District Executive Assistant Lorie Pearce said the board wouldn't publish the actual public comments, but they'll add them to the May 18 minutes. The minutes won't be available until after approval by the school board during the June 15 meeting. 

 

The guidelines state the public comment typically taken during board meetings is not a forum for open discussion or debate between the board and patrons. If someone wants a follow-up, a member of the district staff will respond. 

 

"I think it's a policy that keeps us in line with making sure that your taxpayer money is being spent in the right way and that we're able to come in and do the job and stay focused."

 

Grady said they might have to schedule additional meetings to allow for public input. 

 

"We can absolutely hold other meetings. We can do it in different outlets. And it's something we've been talking about, again, it's been a very crazy year. We've all had a lot on our plates, personally and professionally, trying to deal with things. But yes, hearing from the public is definitely a priority for us." 

 

You can find a link to the guidelines for submitting public comments to the school board at the school district's website.

KPCW reporter Carolyn Murray covers Summit and Wasatch County School Districts. She also reports on wildlife and environmental stories, along with breaking news. Carolyn has been in town since the mid ‘80s and raised two daughters in Park City.
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