Improvement in Information to the Public

Followers of the blog have seen my concern over the level with which the Administration and Board shares information with the public.  With the power the School District has, it is imperative that the public’s right to know be held at the highest level. It should be acknowledged that the most recent Board meeting showed [...]

More on the Sunshine Act and the Public’s Right to Know

As I have posted recently, Council Rock School Board’s adherence to provisions of the Sunshine Act occasionally is less than ideal.  At the October 15th meeting this matter of the Sunshine Act crept up again, this time in regards to notice given about an Executive Session. As a principle, all meetings of School Board officials [...]

Accountability and the Sunshine Act

I think it is important for the public to hold its elected officials and Boards accountable for the execution of their duties in accordance with laws, policies, etc.  At the October 1st meeting, I interrupted the Board meeting due to what I perceived to be a violation of the Sunshine Act.  The Board’s solicitor, Derek [...]

Posting of Agenda Attachments for Public Review

Council Rock’s website provides the public access for the upcoming Board meeting agenda.  Most items on the agenda contain an attachment which contains all the details on motions to be made. The Administration has taken the position that certain items will not get posted in advance, such as contracts which are to be signed, because [...]

Council Rock School Board Passes Policy to Allow Absent Members to Participate and Vote

At the Board meeting Thursday, October 2nd, Policy 006.1 was up for adoption. This is the one which would allow remote participation by members who for any reason couldn’t physically be there. Earlier in the meeting, during public comment I read for the Board excerpts from a document called “Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law — A Guide [...]

Public Comment Will Be Added for New Agenda Items

At Thursday’s Board meeting, I once again raised the issue of the necessity to have additional public comment at meetings if any new agenda items get added for consideration. The proposed revision to Policy 006 (dealing with Board Meetings) simply stated that the Board would “consider” adding a time for added public comment in this [...]

Policy on Remote Participation and Voting by Council Rock School Board Members Back for Consideration

After all the hubbub created at the June 17th meeting with J. Dennis McMenamin’s participation by a remote conference call (instead of being present as per Board policy), his vote being allowed on two issues and then his hanging up for the balance of the meeting, the Board hurried forward a new policy to allow [...]

Does the Council Rock School Board Listen to Public Comment?

Sometimes I really wonder whether public comment is being heard at all. The agenda for Thursday’s Board meeting has been posted.  I read the attachment showing Policy 006 in its latest iteration to be considered for adoption at the meeting. As readers of my blog have read, on August 19th I posted how a proposed [...]

Complete Minutes with Attachments Not Available to the Public for Months after Meetings

At the most recent Board Meeting, August 20th, I spoke out against a systemic failure of having the official complete minutes available to members of the public to review in any semblance of a timely manner. Board Policy 006 states in part: The official minutes (containing the full context of all resolutions and addendum items) [...]

Well, At Least They Didn’t Go Ahead with 006

During public comment for last night’s School Board meeting I discussed the draft revision of Policy 006 which was on the agenda.  I pointed out it was technically flawed so I didn’t see how they could go ahead and approve it in that form.  I mentioned the point I posted a couple of days ago, [...]