Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 17, 1990 TAG: 9007140117
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Margaret Camlin
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
School officials want to shorten from five to three minutes the time that citizens may speak.
But more significantly, the board hopes to keep people from giving "trials or testimonies" directed toward employees.
The board reserves 30 minutes at the beginning of its monthly meetings - held on first Tuesdays - for citizens' comments.
"Citizens are expected to confine remarks to issues, programs or concerns without reference to specific individuals," reads the first draft of a proposed policy to be considered in August.
The board has a responsibility to "protect the privacy of individuals and to promote an atmosphere that preserves and protects the dignity of individuals," the draft says.
"How well we'll police that, I don't know," said the board's new chairman, Marty Childress.
He said the changes are needed for legal reasons - to protect the board, the employee who might be the target of criticism, and the critic.
If, for instance, people "have a problem with the superintendent, they should speak in global terms," Childress said.
The superintendent was criticized sharply at a board meeting in May by Bonnie Shelor, sister-in-law of fired Personnel Director T.O. Williams.
From the lectern, Shelor said Williams should not be forced to leave the school system. "The man that should leave is Harold Dodge," she said.
Williams has sued Superintendent Harold Dodge for $100,000, alleging that Williams was fired without cause.
At the same meeting, staff, parents and students at Shawsville High School urged the board to let Fran Weiss, the school's guidance counselor, keep her job. Weiss was reassigned to teaching, effective this fall. She has filed a grievance.
When asked if the proposed policy would interfere with the constitutional right of free speech, Childress said the board's new attorney will probably review it.
The board is "not trying to limit anybody," he said.
The board suggests that people wanting to talk to the board about personnel matters should do so in a letter.
"The board is very interested in citizen viewpoints and problems," the proposal says. But citizens should first "work through problems at the building and/or administrative levels before coming to the board."
Childress also hopes to streamline board meetings and reduce the time spent in executive, or closed, meetings on personnel matters.
The personnel report will be part of the regular "consent" agenda, and only if a board member has a problem with a personnel matter will it be discussed behind closed doors, Childress said.
by CNB