School site hearings won’t exactly be open mic nights

August 21, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Journal Star reporter Clare Jellick has posted the rules (Adobe PDF file) District 150 will follow at the four public hearings on the site selection for an additional feeder school for Woodruff High School. The rules were developed by the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service. Brad McMillan, Congressman RayLaHood’s former chief of staff,  will apparently moderate the forums.

One of the rules strike me as a somewhat limiting. For example, a speaker may speak at only one of the four forums.  With presentations limited to just five minutes (much like Peoria City Council meetings), I don’t see allowing those who wish to speak again to provide followup information or to correct a misstatement would be too big a burden. Perhaps Mr. McMillan will allow some leeway on this.

There’s a lot a like, though. Input is also going to be collected on the school district’s Web site.

Unlike the public comment period at Peoria City Council meeting, speakers can use visual aids, such as Power Point presentations, and there will be a question and answer segment that doesn’t count against their five minutes. And here is a part I like: Members of the Peoria City Council can participate in the Q & A.

The rules also require presenters to “be constructive and positive” and not  “NOT revisit the past.” I interpret this to mean that speakers should avoid questioning the ancestry of school board members and avoid bitching and moaning about the Glen Oak Park/Glen Oak School debate.

All of the forums will be held on at 7 p.m. on a Thursday, which is one of my days off:

  • Sept. 13, Woodruff High School
  • Sept. 27, Irving Grade School
  • Oct. 4, Von Steuben Middle School
  • Oct. 18, Glen Oak Primary School

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

Comments are closed.