If you want to talk to the Norfolk School Board, you'll have to wait
By Sara Gregory
Since mid-2018, the Norfolk School Board has been divided into two factions. Top: from left, Lauren Campsen, Carlos Clanton, Noelle Gabriel and Adale Martin. Bottom: from left, Tanya Bhasin, Rodney Jordan and Christine Smith. The latest disagreement between members was over the use of taxpayer money to buy a plane ticket so Martin could be present to break a tie vote. (Norfolk Public Schools)
Those wanting to share thoughts with the Norfolk School Board will have to wait now.
The board used to hear from the public near the start of its meetings. Going forward, only speakers who want to talk about topics on the agenda will be heard at the beginning of the night. People coming to share other concerns will have to wait until the end.
Chairwoman Noelle Gabriel said the change — which was not publicly debated and which three board members said they learned about at the same time as the public — was so "we can get through the work of the board a little bit earlier." Virginia Beach has a similar policy.
"Separating agenda and non-agenda public comment ideally provides school board members with immediate feedback on particular agenda items relevant to the discussion and the vote at hand," Gabriel said later in a statement in response to questions about the change.
Norfolk School Board Chairwoman Noelle Gabriel.
Rodney Jordan (Courtesy image)
"Non-agenda item comments are welcomed after the voting items have been concluded," she said. "We aim to keep our meetings concise and provide everyone with the opportunity to speak if they wish."
By and large, the people who speak before the Norfolk board come sharing problems, like their frustration with special education services or concerns about building conditions. Or they come to advocate for topics dear to them: teacher pay raises, expanded recess and the like. Most people do not come to speak on a specific agenda item, but some do, like several who came to the June and July meetings to talk about proposed changes to the dress code.
In recent months, though, speakers who come specifically to criticize the board's actions have at times outnumbered those who come to talk about anything else. There have been dozens of such speakers at some meetings, each of whom gets three minutes to speak their mind.
The board's longest meeting of the last year, in March, lasted just over three hours — about half of which was dedicated to public commentary. Most meetings are at least two hours long.
The board doesn't respond to comments in the moment and largely doesn't interact with or react to the public while they speak. Outside of regular meetings, though, board members have bristled at the criticism they've received. At a board training in January, Adale Martin identified some of the public commentary as a "threat" during a discussion of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
"They just make stuff up; they call us out," Martin said. "It is a threat. They're trying to divide us."
The board's chairwoman and vice chairman, Carlos Clanton, determine meeting agendas. Three board members, Tanya Bhasin, Christine Smith and Rodney Jordan, said they learned about the change to public comment when they received the agenda for July 17's meeting along with the public.
Bhasin and Jordan both said they thought it was a typo at first. Jordan said he believes the board should have discussed what amounts to a change in its policies on public participation.
"I find the change made with no public discussion of the full board in an open meeting as a contradiction to open, transparent government," Jordan said. "Whether the change is positive, negative, or neutral, it deserves an open airing in the public as we do other policies and not foisted on the public or the board."
Bhasin said she was worried the change would "stifle" public comment.
"We are spending more time criticizing those holding us accountable versus adjusting our behaviors and actions toward good governance," she said.
Other board members did not respond to requests for comment on the change.
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School boards in Hampton Roads all handle public comment a little differently. Boards aren't required to provide time for the public to speak.
Portsmouth gives speakers five minutes each and allows people to speak twice, on agenda and non-agenda items, near the start of the meeting. Board members also interact with speakers. Chesapeake has just one public comment period for all speakers, also near the beginning.
Virginia Beach does something similar to Norfolk's new approach, but gives speakers four minutes. Public comment on agenda items comes at the start of the meeting, while comments on non-agenda items come at the very end. Virginia Beach does not livestream or record video of speakers on non-agenda items.
Norfolk recorded public speakers at the board's first meeting with the change. After public comment ended, the meeting concluded with its customary period of board comment.
Sara Gregory, 757-222-5150, sara.gregory@pilotonline.com
Norfolk School Board
Norfolk Public Schools
Newsroom Initiative