The issue will be readdressed in October

The Albert Lea School Board rejected amending its open forum procedure Monday to only allow questions that address agenda items.

The board will consider the measure, which failed on a 3-3 vote, at its next meeting in October to allow for more time for public feedback and discussion.

Board members Linda Laurie, Mark Ciota and Bill Leland voted to amend the open forum procedure. Jill Marin, Julie Johnson and Dave Klatt voted no.

Johnson said she did not support the measure because of the role she believes the public needs to play in running a public school.

“Public schools belong to the public,” she said, noting her belief that only allowing open forum discussion to include agenda items is not a direction the district should go to repair trust and relationships she said have eroded in her time on the board.

“I don’t like the message that sends to the community,” she said.

Superintendent Mike Funk said community members would still have avenues to share their concerns with administration and School Board members through face-to-face meetings, calls and emails if the measure passes next month.

“Providing input to specific items that the board is considering at meetings keeps the board and community focused on the issues related to the education of our students,” he said.

Marin said she voted against the measure for several reasons.

“The public relations we have with the community are in need of repair, not further damage,” she said.

She said she thinks community members who speak before the board should be able to discuss anything they want.

Laurie said limiting the public forum will help the district streamline and be considerate to staff members and administration who have been at work all day.

“I think we need to be respectful of everyone’s time,” she said.

Marin’s requests denied

Marin’s requests for an independent investigation into how she was treated at the April 18 board meeting and for all district legal opinions for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years each were denied by the board by 4-2 votes. Johnson voted with Marin.

The board discussed the possibility of a lawsuit stemming from a recording from the April 4 board meeting April 18.

Marin said the measure was put on the April 18 agenda at the last minute, and claimed she knew what was going on when a local television station showed up late and set up across from her. She described the television piece as sensationalized.

Policy discussed

A district policy recently implemented, which only allows Marin’s questions to be answered by administration if a majority of the board approves, was discussed.

“I regret that I may be unable to find out the answers to many of your questions,” Marin said in a Facebook post, which announced the policy last month. “I have been notified that I have asked too many questions. Questions from me will only be answered by administration if a majority of the board approves. This dismays and saddens me. I have never heard of such a thing in our great country.”

Funk presented a list of emails sent by Marin to administrative members Monday as reasoning for the decision, noting board members have no authority away from board meetings.

“If I have staff members who are stressed out, part of my responsibility as a superintendent is to take care of those staff members,” he said.

Funk then asked Deputy Superintendent Lori Volz if she had ever received so many requests from a board member, prompting a community member to leave the room visibly upset.

Johnson said though she understands there is a balance that needs to be struck in the process, board members must answer questions from the public.

Marin said the emails are in response to questions from community members, which she said some of which have not been answered by administration.