Community Roundtable_ Board Interaction

[Joseph Bond]

Pondering a monthly roundtable with a few board members and selected members (hat pick) from the community who request to participate.

 

Is anyone doing this or something similair?

 

Would be interested in how its going and what guidelines you follow.

 

Thank you.

[Karen Burka]

If you're still looking for input....we've had this discussion recently. I called NYSSBA and got some good advice. Namely you can't have a majority of the board meet with the public without it being subject to OML. In addition, if smaller groups of board members meet separately with the public, could that harm board unity? Or create factions on the board. Ultimately we agreed that it was not appropriate for the board to meet in small groups. It really came down to board unity and also following the chain of command (which Melinda's comment here addresses.

[Melinda Leising]

Very late to reply but I’d ask what the goal of such meetings would be. As board members, we can’t solve problems for community members but would be directing them to the proper resource
(Principal, athletic director, etc.). Our superintendent is looking at holding community forums sponsored and moderated by the PTA where people can submit questions in advance. The questions would be for administrators. I’ve heard complaints about the lack of interaction during public comment period at board meetings, but there shouldn’t be interaction. Maybe that’s where you’re coming from with thinking about a round table. I think open dialogue is valuable but in my district, the parents really want interaction with the administrators. Hope this helps.