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Home / New London Journal News
NL School Board Modifies Public Comment Policy
By Gina Anderson
Dec. 26, 2024 12:00 am
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
The New London School Board held their monthly meeting on Dec. 16, 2024. Lindsay Porter was absent. They approved the agenda and the consent agenda.
Joe White, New London art teacher, addressed the board in public forum. He is concerned that the addition of an Ag program or any new program coupled with the college courses that are already offered will be difficult for the district to manage time wise. Electives compete for kids already, and he fears that the programs that are now offered will be depleted with each new addition. He asked the board to carefully look at that aspect as they consider adding any new electives to the curriculum.
The board then heard reports. Principal Kracht discussed the K-12 music concert and felt it was a success. He pointed out that it is fun to see how much the kids change as they get older. All of the staff has had intruder training. Students will have it after break.
He also reported that the students have been working on their employability skills. They have been working on not being tardy. From the beginning of the school year until the end of Nov., tardies have gone down 40.7% from two years ago and are down 49% from last year. That is good progress. The end of the semester is Dec. 20, 2024.
Principal Palmatier reported that the elementary teachers met with the Danville teachers in their PLC groups. The FAST assessment is coming up the week of Jan. 13. Both principals have met with each individual teacher to go over their career development plan. PTO is planning a family night on Feb. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Superintendent reported that the district received the Henry County Community Foundation Grant. They will receive $7,500 with a 25% match to replace the carpet in the auditorium. The house behind the bus barn was gifted to the district by the city council. It has taken a year to work through title issues. The issues have been resolved and the house now belongs to the district.
In personnel matters, the board took the following actions:
- Resignations: Approved Samantha Brauman - special education associate; Approved Laura Schumacher - 4 - year old preschool teacher.
- Appointments: Approved Laura Holt - special education associate.
Approved the following in board business:
- Approved the school budget review committee’s request for increased enrollment on prior year’s headcount in the amount of $92,346 in spending authority.
- Approved the school budget review committee’s request for open enrollment out on prior year’s headcount in the amount of $34,286.
- Approved SBRC request for English language instruction beyond five years in the amount of $1,643.
- Approved modified supplemental amount for At-Risk in the amount of $149,254.
The last item was a lengthy discussion on Board policy 213 and 213.1. It involves how the public comment policy is conducted. With some modifications, BP 213 now reads:
- Public comment will be limited to posted agenda items.
- Citizens with specific complaints or concerns not on the posted agenda, are encouraged to follow Board Policy 213.01 Public Complaints, to help ensure the review and processing of concerns at the lowest organizational level of those closest to the concern.
- The board president will recognize individuals to make their comments at the appropriate time during public comment.
- Citizens wishing to present petitions to the board may also do so at this time. The board, however, will only receive the petitions and not act upon them or their contents.
- The board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public participation. Normally, speakers will be limited to 3 minutes. However, the board president may modify this time limit, if deemed appropriate or necessary.
- Public comment is a time set aside for community input on posted agenda items, but the board will not discuss or take any action on any matter during public comment.
- Public comment time shall be limited to regular board meetings and will not be routinely held during special board meetings or work sessions.
- The board has a significant interest in maintaining the decorum of its meetings, and it is expected that members of the public and the board will address each other with civility. The orderly process of the board meeting will not be interfered with or disrupted by public comment. Only individuals recognized by the board president will be allowed to speak. Comments by others are out of order. If disruptive, the individual causing disruption may be asked to leave the board meeting. Defamatory comments may be subject to legal action.”
The board approved policy 213 with the modifications and waived the 2 nd reading.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:45 p.m. The next regular meeting of the New London School Board will be Jan. 20, 2025 in the north campus board room.
