Letter to the Editor: A proposal for SPS meetings

Dear editor,

After the recent (Springfield Public Schools Board of Education) election, is there anything left that a new BOE might agree to at the April 9 reorganization meeting in order to better serve the public and improve BOE function? Some have been suggested.

For those citizens bold enough to offer public comments, a more respectful and informational exchange could occur with the BOE adoption of the hearing policy used by the local city council and state legislature.

There, three to five minutes are allowed to each speaker and a council member or legislator can inquire of the public speaker. This will increase mutual respect and comprehension by both parties.

Since the (National Education Association) represents 80% of SPS employees, it would seem common sense and increase mutual respect to provide the NEA with a five-minute comment recognition on the agenda of every BOE meeting. Dialogue is best on smaller issues before major misunderstanding develops.

Allow any two BOE members to submit a written request for an agenda topic to be presented at the next one to two meetings.

Finally, require a monthly written report of all the superintendent’s visits to school buildings and monthly faculty meetings of middle and high schools.

This will increase communication and cooperation for all with the children and parents as beneficiaries.

—Roy Holand, former state legislator, Springfield