A Middle Tennessee school district that has faced sharp divisions over masking and COVID protocols is trying to bring order back to its board meetings, following several raucous public hearings.
Williamson County Schools has established new rules for public comment at its monthly board meetings. It limits the public comment period at the meetings to 30 minutes with a total of 30 speakers. And now they have to sign up online in advance and bring a Tennessee ID.
“We’ve struggled these last few weeks when you have so many and there’s such sharp disagreement,” Superintendent Jason Golden said at Thursday night’s work session. “For all our folks, no matter what their thoughts are, this looks to us like it’s worth a try.”
Golden says district staffers have been put in uncomfortable positions, managing a clipboard as people line up to speak ahead of school board meetings.
There will still be some subjectivity. If more than 30 speakers sign up, preference will be given to those who live in Williamson County.
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