Because of the pandemic, public meetings are held virtually, so the school board reads aloud the comments the public sends via email. The ACLU is asking the district to amend its policy to allow people to give live comments by telephone or teleconference.
In a statement sent to NBC 7, the district said, in part, its technology is such that it broadcasts over YouTube while trustees are on Zoom. The emails are read into the record at the appropriate time, and trustees are given a complete packet of all written statements before the meeting.
“I have no assurance they are being read, and they are not publicly posted after the meeting, so I have no idea how many parents feel the same way I do about a certain topic,” said parent Ebey Sorenson, who agreed with the ACLU that the district should allow live comment on telephone or teleconferences, while also keeping the email option for those who find it more accessible.