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Tennessee Conservative News [By Paula Gomes] –
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Board of Education has limited how long members of the public may speak at meetings and is considering other rules of decorum following recent disruptive behavior.
After disruptions during a June meeting which ended in everyone in attendance being removed, the school board approved changes that reduced speaking time for members of the public from five minutes to three. The board also agreed to do away with the practice of yielding time to another speaker.
The meeting had been particularly contentious as families criticized the board regarding now resigned Clarksville science teacher Matthew Gay Vedder who showed nude photos of himself to a female student on his phone as well as a bus crush that affected Kenwood Middle School students.
Recent school board meetings, including last month’s meeting, have seen the public walking around the room with signs and board members are now considering limits on where and how signs may be used at future meetings.
During a study session earlier this week, school board member and State Representative Aron Maberry stated that he would send the rest of the board some proposals on changes related to decorum are expected to be voted on during August’s public meeting.
Maberry did not seek re-election to the board which saw Democrats gain an advantage in last week’s elections.
Of the four out of seven seats that were on the ballot, Democrats won three, changing what had been a 5-2 Republican to Democrat board to 4 Republicans to 3 Democrats.
In the proposal which Maberry shared with Clarksville Now, behavior defined as disruptive or interference will include loud noises or verbal comments, standing near or behind a speaker while holding signs, blocking the board’s view of a speaker by standing between the speaker and the board or obstructing the ability of the board to hear a speaker. Trying to interfere with a speaker as they reach the podium or microphone will also be prohibited.
Signs will still be allowed in meetings but a member of the public wishing to hold or display a sign must remain seated and the sign cannot obstruct or interfere with anyone’s ability to observe the meeting.
The proposed policy change is aimed at preserving order and not to limit the public’s right to participate in the board’s meetings.
Sources:
Tennessee Conservative News
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
