HUNTINGTON BEACH : Trustees Institute Meeting Changes

In an effort to speed up often lengthy school board meetings, Ocean View School District trustees have taken two steps to restructure meeting procedures.

Beginning at the board’s next meeting, issues that the district staff considers to be routine will be forwarded for immediate board action. Currently, trustees consider all proposals during at least two meetings before voting on them.

Additionally, trustees agreed that public comments on issues for consideration will be allowed only at the beginning of each meeting. Audience members will be allowed to speak on issues not under consideration by the trustees at the end of each meeting.

Under existing practice, members of the audience are permitted to address the board on any meeting issue at the time that item is to be voted upon.

The changes in meeting practice come on the heels of a recent board decision to strictly enforce its policy limiting speakers to five minutes each in addressing the board at each meeting.

Trustees say the changes are needed to hasten meetings, which often run up to four hours long.

“I think this will move meetings forward and still give ample opportunity for public input,” trustee Carolyn Hunt said.

Many residents who speak regularly at board meetings said, however, that they think the changes will be detrimental to public participation in school district business.

Gordon Busch, a parent who has long criticized the board for resisting public participation, said he plans to challenge the newly adopted changes. He maintains that the state educational code mandates that audience members be allowed to address items as the board considers them.

District officials said their attorneys have reviewed the change and determined that it does not violate any such guideline.

“I’m definitely planning to challenge this, probably even in court,” Busch said. “The most frustrating part of all this is, instead of opening up the process, (trustees) are trying to restrict it.”

Tracy Pellman was the only trustee who agreed that the current practice should not be changed.