Public speakers are starting to feel very UNWELCOME at the Alpena Public School Board meetings.

At the May meeting, Anna Meinhardt took 40 seconds to give public speaker guidelines. In October, Eric Lawson’s “new” rules went on for 2 minutes and 16 seconds, almost as long as the three minutes public speakers are allowed.

If you go to the APS Board website, it states: “As elected school board members, we are interested in your concerns and opinions. Our hope is that our meetings will give you a better understanding of just how the school district operates. We encourage public participation in our meetings and welcome your comments.”

Unfortunately the Board has tried to add “no clapping” at meetings and threatened to have clappers removed. Board President Lawson finally reversed that decision. It would have been sad not to clap for the cute Besser School students who addressed the Board in October.

Lawson has eliminated one public comment opportunity AND his “NEW” rule included a threat to speakers about defamation suits.

Perhaps the website should say, “We welcome public comments as long as you praise the Board, agree with the Board, pray for the Board and don’t try to hold the Board accountable”.

Board goals included community outreach. It was suggested that the Board have random meetings to chat with parents and community members. If the parents and community are so restricted and threatened at board meetings, why would they want to meet at other times? Would Lawson tell them the Board isn’t interested in their input and that they are “grandstanding”, like he did to the speakers at the Board meetings?

The Board’s attempt to stifle the parents and community does not align with their goals. They are forcing our community to be speechless. Just another Board failure.

Barbara Beamish

Alpena