During the public input portion of the June 16 Hudson School Board meeting, resident Craig Powers urged the School Board to consider changing its policy on public comment and participation.
“I think you share my concerns with getting that updated,” he said during the meeting.
The policy BEDH Public Comment and Participation states in part:
“During the public comment period, an individual may offer comments on agenda items (only). However, consistent with RSA 189:74, I, and in the interest of protecting personally identifiable information (“PII”) as well as other confidential information, comments (including complaints) regarding individual students, volunteers, or employees (other than the superintendent) should be directed to the superintendent or otherwise as provided under the complaint/grievance resolution processes set forth in School Board policies KE and/or KEB. Members of the public shall limit comments only to those items appearing on the current agenda. Requests to address the Board on specific matters (i.e., a request to have a matter placed on an agenda) should be presented to the Superintendent and the School Board Chair no less than fourteen days prior to the next Board meeting and must set forth the specifics of the subject to be address. The determination whether to place the matter on the agenda will be made consistent with Board Policy BEDB.”
Powers said he was looking to have it changed from being able to make public comment on agenda items to “an individual may offer public comment on any agenda items or any district matters. It doesn’t limit it to just what’s on the agenda,” he said.
Powers said he was looking for it to get on the policy committee agenda.
Also during the meeting CX asked for an update on the strategic plan process and also asked that they have a specific date of when it will be done by. Powers said that they have been working on it for the past 18 months and thinks they shouldn’t go in the FY 27 budget process without the strategic plan in place. School Board Chair Maureen Dionne explained that they have provided updates from the committee level and that they plan to continue to work on it throughout the summer and will be finalizing it. She said they are committed to having it done during the school year.
“That work continues,” she said
When asked for more of a specific timeline, Dionne said it likely would be months away from being completed.
“I would say that we are probably months away from finalizing that work,” she said.
The next Hudson School Board meeting is slated to take place on July 14 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
