Trustees Won’t Limit Public Comments

The time allotted for public comments at Fullerton school board meetings will remain unlimited, despite a trustee’s complaint that the panel is “held captive by having to listen to the same speeches over and over again” by fundamentalist Christians.

Trustee Robert C. Fisler had requested that a limit be placed on public comments, but this week his colleagues on the board opposed the proposal. They instead encouraged people to attend board meetings and speak for as long as they want.

A disappointed Fisler said he was getting fed up with listening to lengthy public comments over the past year, including one that lasted more than 20 minutes. He said he wouldn’t mind if the topics varied but, for the most part, a few parents have been delivering the same speeches, pressing the schools to adopt fundamentalist Christian teachings.

The district has responded to the parents many times, Fisler said. But the district has no immediate plans to turn its campuses into fundamentalist Christian schools, he said.

“I think it’s wrong that we be held captive by having to listen to the same speeches over and over again,” Fisler said. “I really believe if you can’t sell them in five minutes, shut up.”

The other trustees disagreed.

“We’ve always been so eager to have people come and speak and now you want to shut them up?” Trustee Anthony M. Valla said. “I would not favor limiting [public comments] at all.”