Citizens outraged by New Kent School Board’s implementation of public comment policy

A decision made at New Kent’s School Board November work session has left several citizens in an uproar.

More than 50 people filled New Kent High School’s media center during Monday night’s regular school board meeting to voice their displeasure with school leaders regarding the public comment session.

At the November work session, school board members voted unanimously to not allow the conceding of a speaker’s time to another person so that they may speak longer. The move was immediately questioned at the work session, but public comment is not received at that time.

As the doors to Monday’s meeting opened, a line quickly formed at the podium to sign up for the public comment session. When that moment arrived during the meeting, citizens unleashed a barrage of messages criticizing the school board’s action.

“This is an unwarranted decision with no community input,” commented Wilma English. “The issues were not address, and you mentioned that things could get out of hand.

“What is the motivation behind this unjust decision?” she continued, emphasizing that no problems have arisen from the deferral of time to another speaker. “Is it about control or exercising authority?”

“I will urge you to reconsider your decision and build better good will,” said Peter Lunding. “The system was working fine. I don’t know why you made it an issue to begin with.”

One after one, speakers approached the lectern and questioned the board’s decision. Some speakers charged that the decision was conspired by the board to limit comments by speakers. Others targeted school board chairwoman Andrea Staskiel’s email dated from early December that the decision would stand and not be changed.

Mark Daniel’s monologue centered around the school board’s decision and how trivial it was to be implemented.

“When you ignore these folks, you are eroding the public confidence in this board,” he said. “That silly decision on [Nov.] 22nd got everybody in a stir.

“If you don’t pay attention to your citizens, they are going to vote you out,” Daniel continued. “What did you gain by making that decision? It’s like kicking a beehive when you could have walked past it.”

“This board hasn’t made any move to increase public participation,” chimed in Thomas Miller, referencing a movement to encourage more public input in school and governmental meetings. “This board went in the opposite direction.”

Leslie Trivette’s comments referenced the purpose of the public comment period.

“What if I had made plans to share my minutes?” she said, speaking about instances prior to the Monday meeting where time was conceded to another speaker. “So what? It only enhances democracy.

“We’re not here to berate you. We’re here for the same purpose as you are; for the children,” Trivette continued. “We are on the same team, but we’re being treated like the enemy. Let the people speak and we will have better government. Let the people speak and we’ll have better schools.”

In total, 58 minutes of the hour and 13 minutes meeting was spent listening to public comments. School board members did not respond to comments, which is customary for meetings. Responses are expected to take place at the January regular school board meeting.

In another matter, school board representatives approved the recommendation of a $1.5 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the FY2022-23 fiscal year.

Replacing school buses at a cost of $599,718 tops the list of projects on the list. High school roof replacement closely follows at $405,000, while digital conversion for computers (a transfer of $100,000) and paving districtwide also carries a $100,000 price tag. Remaining projects include a MS mechanical design ($95,000), HVAC replacement at George Watkins Elementary ($68,000), HVAC replacement at New Kent Middle ($50,000), purchase of a school van ($32,282), and general roof maintenance and miscellaneous school improvements, both coming in at a $25,000 price tag.