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Board to include public comments
Published Friday, April 11, 2008
NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams School Board is seeking a way to add a time for public comments to its monthly board meetings.
The board has requested drafts of policies relating to such comments from the state Department of Education and hopes to select and implement one in the coming months, Chairman Norris Edney said.
Currently, members of the public are allowed to submit a request to appear on the meeting agenda. A policy is in place that requires members of the public submit a formal request several days before the meeting.
But the board doesn’t have a time allotted for audience members to simply stand up and speak.
“I can’t tell you how long it’s been since we had public comments,” Edney said.
The board agreed that there has been no allotted time for comment for more than 10 years.
“It is our intent to address this,” Edney said.
Public comments are statements that will not solicit immediate action from the board, but might prompt further study, he said.
The board also wants to better publicize the existing policy that outlines how members of the public can request to be added to the actual agenda — a move that could illicit immediate action from the board.
In other business, Robert Lewis Middle School Principal Sekufele Lewanika was recognized as the district’s administrator of the year.
Lewanika is in his first year with the district.
Administrator of the year is chosen by a vote of all the district’s administrators.
“I think this speaks extremely well for Mr. Lewanika in his first year here to be selected as administrator of the year,” Superintendent Anthony Morris said. “And I think it speaks well of our administrators too to see that and recognize it.”
The board also voted on new officers. Edney was re-elected as chairman. Matilda Stephens was elected vice president. Kenneth Taylor was re-elected secretary. And Thelma Newsome was elected assistant secretary.
Stephens and Newsome are the board’s newest members. They were appointed in the fall to fill vacant seats. The others are board veterans.
In Morris’ administrative report he announced that:
4 The district will have an arts expo at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Natchez Mall. The public is invited to view the students’ artwork.
4 The district will sponsor a Parent University at 6 p.m. on April 17.
Comments
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 5:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“I can’t tell you how long it’s been since we had public comments,” Edney said.....there has been no allotted time for comment for more than 10 years."
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Well then it shouldn't be any wonder.
You want the public's taxes; allot the time (very few will get up and ask a question anyway) or fund it privately.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ain't that the truth, niderbip!!! "there has been no allotted time for comment for more than 10 years"... You said it right, "Well then it shouldn't be any wonder". And that's all I have to say about that.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know what i do not think is fair....Is that everyone has to pay taxes for public schools and them in the shape they are in...What if you have no children in school? Or you have children home schooled or in a private school?
They want our money but not our voices!!
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bingo.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JMO: I feel the kids are missing out on so much that I experienced as a young pupil that taught me not only school lessons but opened up my little mind to so many cares of the world and everyday things that are taken for granted now-a-days. We were taught care for our home base, our community that directly surrounded us, national ideas, etc. One example in particular was "dime day". This was a day when we little ones scurried around to get a dime to take to school and turn it in to our teacher. The teacher had a book with little slots on each page for the dime to fit into. When the book was full it was set aside until it was time to turn it in. At that time the Red Cross collected the books and the money was sent to different organisations. Mostly, at that time, to fight polio and to the military needs since it was WW11 going on. But those days were so important to us little ones because dimes were hard to come by first of all, and second, we learned a lot about polio and the war since our teacher would take time to teach us all about the subjects. There were many other "special" days that made all the children more aware of what was taking place in our little world. It taught us how to care and be responsible for each other. Lessons such as this are very much needed in our schools now as much as they were needed then. We were better children for it and it helped us become better adults. I feel if we had such lessons in school now we would be able to put a big dent in the crime rate that we have to endure in these sad days. It would bond our children closer and make them aware that they truly are their brothers keeper.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's one. Give children the proper guidance and attention at home so the schools aren't overburdened with those who pull the rest of the children who are trying down with them. Easy to say but how to do it?
Posted by maryhelpme (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They have not had public comments because that is the way the Board wants it. It is very distrubing the way all tax payers are treated when it comes to school issues. I wonder who thought of the idea for "public comments", Newsome or Stephens because I know it was not Dr. Edney; he has been there over 10 years. Alot of people would really love to see EDNEY GO HOME! We will give Edney a free ticket to ride the BUS home. Be bless!
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