Quincy School Board members defend their lack of public engagement during meetings

Quincy School District Board of Education meetings were moved to the Quincy High School cafeteria to accommodate larger groups of people when they were showing up to speak regarding QPS’s COVID policies.

But at Wednesday night’s meeting, there were only about a dozen people in attendance and three people spoke for about 30 minutes to take up most of the meeting time, which adjourned around 6:45 pm.

The first speaker, Renee Mitchell, wanted to know why the board didn’t deliberate policy in open session, especially when it dealt with COVID-related matters. She also accused some board members of acting one way in public (not wearing masks at large, outdoor events), while wearing them during meetings and making students wear them during class.

School Board President Sayeed Ali addressed why the Board didn’t engage during the public comment period.

“The community is very clear (on not wanting public discussion to get out of hand), “Shelly (Arns) and I, we do talk. We can’t meet more than two board members (as not to violate Open Meetings Laws), so sometimes if we have to discuss something, then each one of us talks to different board members and develops consensus and that’s a very effective way to do it. That way, we’re not up here arguing in front of the entire community. I think that that was a real sour taste for a lot of people in this community.”

Ali said the board’s committee meetings were another opportunity where there is more open discussion.

“Those meetings people can attend and they can have that open dialogue,” he said. “So doing something that’s going to affect what the school district doing, that’s all that’s always open there. But…as far as the public comment section (during the monthly full board meetings)…there’s not going to be any engagement.”

Board member Carol Nichols, who did engage with one of the public speakers on the topic of child poverty, agreed with Ali that the public didn’t want displays of acrimony during meetings as she referred to past board presidents loudly banging gavels when meetings got out of hand.

Superintendent Roy Webb, who announced his retirement earlier this month, said he and all of the board members are accessible by email and he frequently gives out his cell phone number.

“I try to answer every email and every request for a meeting,” Webb said. “I don’t think I’ve ever turned anything down when when called and requested. So there is engagement but and I’m happy to answer questions.”

In other action, the board:

• Received a proposed “Hate Speech and Action” policy from the school district’s diversity and inclusion team.

The proposal states the district will not tolerate words, language or actions that lessen the dignity of any individual, no matter the intent or purpose, that refer to a person’s age, sex, race, physical or mental disabilities, religion and sexual orientation — that lessen the dignity of any individual, regardless of the intent or purpose.

If a person is found to have engaged in hate speech or action behavior, the person “shall be required to go through an element of restorative justice…” and “should be educated on why we do not allow this type of discussion, or these words are not allowed anywhere in our schools….”

Webb said there have been incidents regarding hate speech and this policy will address that going forward. The board is reviewing the policy and is expected vote on it next month.

• Approved a contract with Transfinder for software and hosting of a school bus routing system, which a first year cost of $32,480 and $12,350 annually.

Board members Richard McNay and LaTonya Brock were absent.