NJ Education Report

The Star-Ledger reports that a group of enraged parents have filed a court injunction against the Elizabeth Board of Education for limiting their public comment during public board meetings.

The Board passed a resolution last month that requires residents who wish to speak at Board meetings to sign in beforehand. The resolution also limits speaking time for residents to three minutes and gives the Board President the right to cut off comments for a variety of reasons.

Bad move, Elizabeth Board of Ed. Occasionally disrespectful and/or angry residents are part of the process, and a well-run Board should be able to handle a little dirt without getting their knickers in a twist. Lighten up, let the public speak, and exercise control through discerning use of parliamentary procedure. The Board’s wimpiness is a symptom of a larger problem, and they need to spend some time on a real diagnosis rather than downing some tylenol.