GREENFIELD — For months, the Greenfield-Central School Board considered relaxing its public participation policy to ease the process through which citizens address the board.

Monday, the board instead voted to tighten the existing policy, adding additional requirements – including a meeting with the corporation superintendent – for citizens who wish to come before the board.

The board contends that its meetings are not intended to serve as public forums, although members of the public may request the opportunity to speak on both agenda and non-agenda items.

Superintendent Dr. Linda Gellert said the board had the support of both teachers and administrators who requested no changes be made to the policy that might allow angry parents or members of the public to attack a teacher or student in a public forum.

“What is said can be harmful to students … and can also bring harm to staff if there’s some agitation in the community,” Gellert said. “Their fear is the individual addressing the board may not have gone through specific protocols. The teacher should become aware before the board becomes aware.”

The former policy required requests to be placed on the agenda to be submitted in writing seven days before the scheduled date of the board meeting. Now, that request will be accompanied by a mandatory meeting with the school corporation’s superintendent to discuss the matter.

Gellert added that administrators asked that the policy require requests to speak on items already on the agenda be submitted on the Friday before the scheduled meeting.

The board initially considered giving presenters until the Monday morning before the Monday evening meeting. Gellert said having an additional business day would give her more time to ensure that the citizen had gone through the proper channels to address any concerns before going before the board.
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