Yes I was there.
As you are aware, I record the town and school board meetings. Being at the Monday evening’s school board meeting I will transcribe verbatim what Board of Education president Marie MacKay stated before opening the public hearing session.
“I know that people like to bring issues up before the Board of Education (BOE). I know many of you (bus drivers) are here tonight for different reasons. I just want to point out that the public hearing is to address the board, but not to address the board regarding personnel issues.”
“If there are some of you thinking about speaking to us publically about personnel issues, as a board we cannot address personnel issues; in public forum. I ask that when you come up to the podium that you are respectful and keep in mind that we are not here as a board to address personnel issues.”
“Also, in addressing the board you have five minutes to do so. After the five minutes, depending on the question that is asked, if we can answer it we will answer it. If we cannot answer the question because we may need to go back and do more research, we will then come back at another time and answer that question.”
Public hearing
The first individual to address the board at the public hearing was Karen Shafer. Shafer is one of the individuals that has filed discrimination charges against Transportation Supervisor Robert Mowry.
Shafer: “I would like to be respectful to the board and Dr. Vallely. But I believe what I am to bring forward may be a violation of what you (MacKay) just said, and I don’t mean it to be a violation. I did not understand that this may not be able to be presented.”
BOE president MacKay: “Once again I am going to ask that if you are going to mention somebody, if you are going to mention anything about performance, we are not going to address that. We ask that you respect us and not bring that forward to the board.”
BOE member Kenneth Graber: “If it is a complaint about anything other than what the board is doing… you can complain about us all you want… but if it is about any particular employee it should be directed to Superintendent Vallely or one of his administrative assistants. Technically, it cannot be made public. We as a BOE cannot act upon it. There is no utility to bring it up here. It such a time comes when the BOE has to eventually act upon it Dr. Vallely will present it to us. If you have a complaint about our policies or something the board is doing, please go right ahead.”
Shafer: “So then you advise me to meet privately with Dr. Vallely?”
Graber: “If that’s the nature of what you want to say, feel free to say it, but it should be done privately or whoever you may designate”
Shafer: “Thank you.”
Graber: “Please understand that as a body we are interested in hearing what the public has to say, but that is the appropriate way of doing it.”
Shafer: “Thank you.”
Comment
Considering a second individual addressed the board, a bus driver himself for 35 years, and complemented the other bus drivers for the service they provide for the students and parents, I find the Buffalo News headline ‘Lancaster school board tells bus drivers not to talk at meting’ misleading.
At no time did the board tell the attendees that they could not comment on any subject matter, but that the BOE would not answer questions on personnel matters. The board did advise that there was a way to broach the subject and get answers, but did not restrict those wishing to make comments from doing so.
Mrs. Shafer did act respectfully, choose not to proceed and mention names, under the board would not answer personell related questions, and declared she would follow the advise of the BOE in bringing the matter to the district administration. At no time was Mrs. Shafer told she could not talk.