Public asserts right to comment

The Sisters School Board allows public comment at its meetings. The question as to what is and what is not "appropriate" public comment came to a head last month.

Sisters School District superintendent Elaine Drakulich remarked at a press conference on Tuesday, March 18 that hard questions from the public at a recent school board meeting about the resignation of Sisters High School principal Bob Macaulay as head football coach were divisive to the community.

"I am extremely disappointed that as a community we continue to use board meetings for that kind of a forum," Drakulich said. (See "Dusty Macauley is new football coach," The Nugget, March 26, page 1.)

Dr. Bonnie Malone told The Nugget that although the public definitely has the right to comment at public meetings, certain protocols must be followed. "Taking up a massive amount of time on a single issue by single minded people disrupts a board meeting in the public sector," she said.

Local resident Fred Ast also supports public comment at board meetings.

"If issues come up that don't sit well with patrons, they should have the opportunity to speak - disruptive or not," he said.

School board chairman Mike Gould told The Nugget that he feels the board should be clear about the district's position on public comment.

Listening to open, public comment "goes with the territory" of being a school board member, Gould said.

"Sometimes it's not fun to hear the discussion, and sometimes people aren't happy with what the board has done, but in my estimation that's how it's supposed to work. I'm not sure where else we would direct someone to go. If somebody has something they think the board needs to hear, I'd rather they come to the board meeting than not say it," said Gould.

Local resident Quay Richerson is puzzled by superintendent Drakulich's comments.

"Ms. Drakulich's extreme disappointment in our community surprises me. ... How can she deem communication at a public meeting as divisive in the community? Communication and the opportunity to hear dissenting views is not only a good thing, but it is imperative to success. As the leader of our school district, Ms. Drakulich should welcome community input because she will need the community's support to achieve excellence," said Richerson.

School board vice chairman Glen Lasken encourages public participation at board meetings.

"If they have something bothering them, I encourage them to come forward and speak. Even if I don't agree with what's being said, I recognize that I represent the entire community and sometimes it's good for me to hear opposing points of view. Sometimes it causes one to question what you're doing or rethink things," he said.

From the perception of school board member Jeff Smith, public comment at open, public meetings is basic to a democratic system of government. It is both the right of and obligation for the public to express their concerns, he said, noting that in small legislatures like Sisters people have the opportunity to speak directly to their elected officials.

Area resident Ken Ruettgers agrees that the right to speak out is basic in a democracy.

"It would be a sad day in America if the community of Sisters lost their ability to voice their opinions in a respectful manner at Sisters School Board meetings," he said.

School board member Tom Dumolt agrees that school board meetings are a proper forum for the public to express their concerns. Dumolt, however, feels that individuals with a concern should start at the lowest applicable administrative level, rather than going directly to the school board.

Dumolt encourages anyone with a concern to tell him.

"I like to at least know about it, and I kind of track it and let it work its way through the system up to the board. At this point, a concern (addressed following this procedure) has never made it back up to the board. It's always been addressed on a lower level," he said.

Board member Christine Jones told The Nugget that she, too, appreciates it when individuals come to her with concerns, as well as when they comment at board meetings about the affairs of the district.

"I think it's entirely appropriate for people to comment; that's why we have public meetings," she said.