School Board Examines Limits on Public Comments at Meetings

officials are considering a revision to the district's policy on public comments at school board meetings and may require residents to register in advance.

A new proposal calls for residents to register with Superintendent Donna Milanovich's secretary by 9 a.m. on the day of meetings and sign an acknowledgement of the district's public-comment policy before addressing the board.

Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Zurchin presented the proposal on behalf of the district's policy committee at Monday's school board meeting

Under the proposal, members of the public also would be asked to disclose a general topic that they wished to discuss with the board before speaking, Zurchin said. She said the committee crafted the proposal after reviewing policies on public comments at other Pittsburgh-area schools.  

Milanovich said that at recent meetings, residents have addressed personnel matters, including the hiring of new high school football coach , and have directed specific grievances to board members. She said such comments violated the district's public meeting policy. 

"I think people need to come into this room and be respectful of this body," Milanovich said. "We've had examples lately where people were not. They cannot direct questions or allegations to certain members of the board." 

The proposal was met with resistance from some board members, including Sandra McCurdy, who said she believed it would lead to "backlash against the board." 

"I see this as being restrictive to the public," McCurdy said. 

Board President Mark Scappe, who distanced himself from the proposal, asked the policy committee to continue revising the guidelines and to present them to the board at a later date. 

"Look it over again and bring it back to [district solicitor Jack Cambest]," Scappe said. "Have him take a look at it and see if we want to address it in a different manner than it is presented to us today."