The Gwinnett County Board of Education is setting new rules on how the public can comment at their meetings. There was a split vote on the new policy, but it passed 3-2.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), school board members initiated the change as a way to hear from a wider variety of people. Some were complaining that the same group of people were the only ones to comment at the meeting.
In the past, a month before a meeting, slots would open up to those wishing to comment at that meeting. Often all 30 spots would be full within a few hours. Now the new policy will allow for continued sign-ups beyond the initial 30. If more than 30 people wish to speak, those who are allowed to do so will be picked randomly. Half of those 30 spots will be reserved for students now, as the board says they wish to prioritize the students’ voices.
Also, the new rules allow for people to address the board remotely. It is no longer a requirement to be in person, with the option to call in or use another remote connection.
Meetings will also be structured differently, splitting the comments into two segments. Now, before going straight into the agenda, the meeting with start with 30 minutes of hearing from the public. Another 60 minutes will be provided at the end for those who wish to comment. Speakers will still get 3 minutes to address the board.
The new policy goes into effect in July.
