Robbinsdale School Board To Consider Policy on Personal Attacks
The Robbinsdale School Board is considering a policy to suspend speaking rights for anyone making personal attacks on board members.
The school board expects to discuss the policy at a special work session on July 24.
Broadly, the policy establishes behavior expectations for people participating in school board meetings.
The policy also lays out a procedure for the public to submit complaints about school district staff members.
“The school board adopts reasonable time, place and rules for public expression to facilitate free and friendly discussion by all interested parties,” the draft policy reads. “The school board shall, as a matter of policy, protect the legal rights to privacy and due process of employees and students.”
The Robbinsdale School Board is considering a policy that could temporarily end speaking rights for anyone making personal attacks on board members.
Board May Suspend Speakers After Personal Attacks
The draft policy requires that “adults will behave respectfully to one another during community meetings.”
The policy also lays out a series of circumstances where the board chair can rule a speaker as “out of order.”
For instance, if anyone, including a school board member, begins discussing issues that may violate federal or state law, the chair is supposed to rule them out of order. The provision makes similar requirements for violations of privacy policy and civil or human rights.
The Robbinsdale School Board meets on July 21. The board will meet again on July 24 in a special work session.
The board should address any issues involving privacy concerns or allegations “separate from the public proceedings,” the draft policy reads.
Likewise, the policy attempts to address personal attacks on board members.
“Personal attacks by anyone addressing the school board are unacceptable,” the draft policy reads. “Persistence in such remarks by an individual could result in a loss of that person’s privilege to address the school board. If [the] speaker is called out of order, the speaker forfeits their speaking time.”
A highlighted portion of text asks the board to define the discipline process for speakers that violate the policy.
“First offense a warning with six months of probation?” the draft policy reads. “Three offenses in a a 12-month period will result in suspension of speaking privileges for 12 months. What is the discipline for students who make personal (verbal) attacks? Could we model that process?”
A screenshot of the Robbinsdale School Board draft policy allowing the board to revoke speaking privileges following personal attacks.
Complaints for the Robbinsdale School Board
The draft policy lays out a procedure for submitting complaints about a district staff member.
Complainants should direct routine complaints to direct supervisors, the draft policy states.
Unresolved complaints can be directed to a building principal, or the executive director of human resources. Further up the chain, complaints can be directed to the assistant superintendent and then the superintendent’s office.
If complaints remain unresolved at the superintendent’s level, they can be brought to the school board.
A full copy of the draft policy is available here.
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