Policy revisions a hot topic at Trinity

Trinity Area School District residents asked Thursday how they can find out about proposed revisions to policies so they can comment on them at school board meetings before a vote occurs.
The board discussed revising five policies, including one about public participation in board meetings.
The proposed changes to the public participation policy call for residents to sign in if they want to speak to the board. It also states that board members and administrators will not answer questions during the public comment period, which will be limited to 20 minutes unless extended by the board.
Before the board discussed the policy revisions, a resident asked what the revisions were about. She was told she could come in Friday and get copies of the proposed revisions.
That led to frustration from the audience later in the meeting, who questioned why they couldn’t have those potential revisions before the meeting started.
“How is it we are to know if we want to speak?” said Pattiann Trusler Berton, of South Strabane.
Historically, at Trinity and other districts, policy revisions are not publicly available until they are brought to the board and the board decides to have a first reading, said Acting Superintendent James Dick. That can be changed if it is the wish of the board, he said.
“We should have them available before the meeting,” said school board President Tom Bodnovich, who also suggested the revised policies be placed on the big screens in the board room for the audience to see while they are being discussed.
Assistant Superintendent Yvonne Weaver said there is a two-month process for approving a revised policy.
Thursday night was the first step – showing it to the board at a public meeting, where members discuss changes.
Members will vote on a first reading later this month. Next month, the board again will discuss potential changes. Any other changes will be made before the policy has a second reading and is voted on at the board’s second meeting in April, she said.
After that vote, the changes become official policy, she said.
Board member Tamara Salvatori said she agreed with the residents speaking. She said she was in the same position last year before she was elected, wanting to know what was going on but not permitted to see documents.
She suggested making available a few copies of what residents can legally see for those in attendance to share.
Dick said the intent of not having administrators and board members answering questions is to not get into a debate. He said they will not have answers to all questions that come up at a meeting. He said they can answer simple questions. He said the policy should include language that the questions will be answered by the next board meeting.
Board member Sandy Clutter said the policy is what the Pennsylvania School Board Association recommends about public participation.
The other policy revisions include purchases subject to bid, field trips, relations with special interest groups and subject acceleration.
The field trip policy changes will require only principal approval for trips of one day or less. The board will have to approve trips when students will stay overnight outside the district.
That led to a discussion about whether the school district should pay for field trips. Currently, parent organizations pay the cost of those trips. However, one parent said the organizations can no longer afford them.