Waukesha Schools Sends Public Comment Policy Changes Back

WAUKESHA, WI—The Waukesha School Board voted to send proposed changes to the public comment policy back to the Policy Committee for further clarification. The vote was unanimous during Wednesday's meeting.

The item is listed on the agenda for the Public Policy Committee for 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The proposed revisions included the following.

• No longer asking speakers to state their address on video.
• Giving more time if fewer than six people sign up to speak.
• Creating a policy for speakers who break meeting protocols to suspend them from speaking again.

School Board President Joe Como said he agreed for safety reasons that it was good not to have speakers list their addresses on live video. But he questioned how to determine if a speaker lives within the district.

"I think its important for us to understand when we're listening to our constituents versus when we are listening to someone out of the state," he said.

Como wanted more information regarding suspending speakers who break rules.

The proposed revisions would have the presiding officer recommend suspension of an person for disruptive behavior or offensive language. The recommendation would lead to a special meeting and require a majority vote in order to approve a suspension.

Como asked how the meeting agenda would be posted and if an individual or multiple people would be listed. He also asked if there would be separate meetings for multiple people.

Como said there needs be a balance of First Amendment rights and respect when making the decision to suspend someone.

Board member Corey Montiho had concerns about the wording of the phrases "egregious disruptive behavior" and "offensive language." Montiho used the example of public comment at Wednesday's meeting. Several parents spoke about concerns regarding books in schools with sexual content. A few people read excerpts of the books.

"If you are going to read out of a textbook, is that offensive? Is it disruptive?" he asked.

Superintendent Jim Sebert and Como had to decide on suspending citizens from addressing the board this year. Como said it was a decision that took several days of speaking with legal counsel and reviewing videos.

"Anytime that we have had to suspend the rights for a citizen to come and address us, that was a pretty tough decision," Como said.