Diane Douglas: Solidifying Your Freedom of Speech, Part II

Please allow me to prove a point in truth I've made before, this time through yet another independent source. Over the past six months, current "old board" members of the PUSD Governing Board have, meeting after meeting, chastised Diane Douglas for her stating that the opportunity for the public to address the board didn't exist before the new board was elected. These same board members make faces as Mrs. Douglas defends this assertion. They interrupt her. One even regularly raises her voice to her.

Thanks to dedicated blog readers who are willing to share the truth (the kind that can be backed up by independent sources such as the following), we have an article from November 13th, 2004, showing certain board members sounding a completely different tune than they have in the past six months. In fact, much of what they have said in the past six months regarding the public's former "ability" to address the board is contradicted in this article! It offers amazing evidence to validate the progress Mrs. Douglas has brought to our district.

Here's the newspaper article:

November 13, 2004
Section: VALLEY & State
Edition: Final Chaser
Page: B5
PEORIA PARENTS MAY GET LOUDER ON SCHOOL ISSUES
Louie Villalobos, The Arizona Republic

When Diane Douglas recently was elected to the Peoria Unified School District's governing board, she promised to give residents a louder voice in the decision-making process.
The first step, she said, should be to add a call to the public at all board meetings so residents can address the board on any topic.
"Even though it's not on the agenda, they can come to the meetings and ask the board to consider an issue at future meetings," Douglas said. "I think it would be a huge addition for our community."
Douglas, who will take her seat on the board in January, will have to rid the district of a long-standing practice of limiting public comments at meetings to only agenda items.

One board member said that policy serves as protection against verbal attacks, while a parents group said it is a muzzle on concerned community members.
Debra Raeder, who has been on the board since 1997, said that the district does an "admirable" job of giving the public an opportunity to address issues and that an open forum would pose a risk.
"Sometimes the issues are volatile, sometimes they're making accusations, and it's very hard for people to say, 'I can't respond,' " Raeder said, referring to a state law that prohibits board members from discussing non-agenda items during a call to the public, which allows residents to speak on any topic.
Raeder added that Peoria board members were under the impression they couldn't defend themselves against accusations during calls to the public. However, state law says board members can respond to "criticism."

Districts in Scottsdale, Tempe, Paradise Valley, Deer Valley, Phoenix, Litchfield Park, and Glendale have such calls to the public. Board members usually allow residents to voice any concerns they have without responding, often choosing to consider the matter at a future meeting.
Scott Seely, governing board president of the Litchfield Elementary School District, said those sessions can be helpful if residents offer up possible agenda items and keep the board informed on district problems.

Raeder said anybody can have something placed on the meeting agenda by contacting a board member or calling the district office.
Kim Olsen, vice president the Peoria United Parent Council, said having to track down board members can be difficult. She said she is asking the board for a call to the public at every meeting.
We believe that the community expects and has the right to be heard by those they elect to represent them," Olsen said.

*end article*

Not only were Mrs. Douglas and the other new board members able to successfully give the PUSD community a NEW voice in the PUSD, it is now overwhelmingly clear the ground they gained is NEW ground that the former board did not want to tread on. I can only hope people are now beginning to realize the honesty and determination of the new PUSD board members. May the truth prevail!

(: Dominic