The Jan. 22 letter, “Wrong approach to public comment,” included incorrect information about how the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors handles public comment during board meetings. The facts are:
As a matter of practice, every regular school board meeting includes two public comment time slots.
The practice of having two public comment time periods began in response to community members who asked for a separate time to comment before the consent agenda and a time to comment later in the meeting.
At the Jan. 13 board meeting, we doubled the time available for public comment in the first slot from 15 to 30 minutes. We did this out of respect for the number of people in the audience. A video of the meeting can be viewed by visiting the school board page at the district website.
Every person who signed up to comment and was qualified did speak to the board.
Others signed up to speak during the second public comment time slot and each addressed the board.
We welcome the comments of those who touch base with us in the many other ways detailed on the district website. It saddens me that individuals who were not present would use factually incorrect information in a published letter without inquiring first.
There have been three major times in my life when I took a vow to support and defend a principle I believed in — my oath of military service, my marriage vows and my oath to the office of Everett School Board director. The actions I take as a member of your school board have always been and will continue to be based upon the promises I made in that vow. I have found that all interactions, be they personal or professional, are most successful when everyone involved operates from a position of principled integrity. My hope is that all who promise to live up to a commitment will act with integrity by living up to their promises.
Pam LeSesne
Everett Public Schools, Board of Directors, president
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