St. Charles school board to clarify rules on public comment

St. Charles school board members in the coming months are expected to further clarify District 303's rules regarding public participation at board meetings.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the Feb. 14 board meeting, with possible action in March.

During a discussion in July about public participation, board member Becky McCabe said that a school board meeting is not a town-hall meeting.

"The time that we do our work is at a board meeting," McCabe said. "If we wanted as a board to do a town hall - and please know that I'm not necessarily recommending that - that would look different. That would be a dialogue."

Prior to the public comment portion of a meeting, a school board member will read a statement that "school code provides for a public comment period at each board meeting subject to reasonable constraints. The practice of this board is to limit public comment to three minutes per speaker to a total of 30 minutes per meeting."

McCabe stressed there are other ways a resident can reach out to the school board.

"I also think it's real important that they also know there's many ways to connect with us," she said. "This is one place of many where they can let their opinions be shared."