Council Rock Changes Public Comment Protocols

NEWTOWN, PA — The Council Rock School District is allowing in-person comment at its board meetings in 2021, albeit with social distancing protocols in place.

Effective Jan. 7, anyone who wishes to speak at board meetings must sign up in person at the Chancellor Center prior to the start of the board meeting. The large parking lot on the left-hand side of the building will be reserved for the public.

Prior to the change in policy, the public submitted comments by email or spoke via phone during the public comment sections of board meetings.

The public comment email address was disabled effective Jan. 1. Board members may still be reached at their individual email addresses or at the board email address. Public comment will also be consolidated into one 60-minute session per board meeting.

The public will come to the Chancellor Center and register with security indicating that they wish to speak during public comment. They will then be asked to either wait in their vehicle or stand outside the building, maintaining a safe social distance from others. When their turn is close, they will be notified to come to the door. They will then be escorted inside and put in the queue. When it is their turn to speak, they will be allowed into the board room, following the designated route to the public microphone. They will then be given three minutes to speak. After they have finished speaking, they will leave the building.

When pandemic restrictions are lifted, public comment will return to normal, district officials said.

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