By DEB WUETHRICH

I’m not often one to weigh in with my own opinion on things, especially controversial things, most often opting for the professional journalist stance, attempting to cover community issues as objectively as possible, sharing a representation of other people’s views, as it should be for news reporting. But like my bi-weekly column in the Herald and a Blog, sometimes even reporters have something to say and want to express an opinion that might be warranted.

I still can’t believe I witnessed what I did at Monday night’s school board meeting. Picture the room full of people, some with their jobs on the chopping block, some nervously waiting an opportunity to voice a comment to their representatives, the school board members.

Picture the consternation of some of those people when the board president rapidly recites her bi-monthly speech, “This is a meeting held in public, not a public meeting,” and spells out how speakers should give their names and limit comments to three minutes. Then, before one of those nervous and anxious people, a few who may have been attending a board meeting for the first time, could muster up the courage to go first, the board president, after I’d say, a no-more-than five second pause, moved on to the next order of business while audience members looked at each other, some wondering, “Was that our chance?”

Oh, well. There’s always the public comment period at the end of the meeting. Many of those present were determined to stick around anyway to hear the news they dreaded being made official that night with a vote: Tecumseh Public School jobs would be eliminated. They patiently awaited the second comment period. Debbie Johnson-Berges again recited “the rules” for public comment — then looked out over the audience for what I believe was even less than five seconds this time, and then asked, “Does the board have anything?” (This was the point that board member Gary Urban did, indeed, have something to say and tendered a surprise resignation.) I saw, once again, people looking at one another, wondering how they’d missed another opportunity.

Now technically, I know the board president can say she gave them their chance. No one spoke up or raised their hand. And she followed procedure and moved on to the next order of business: board member comments. But I can’t help but think that a disservice to the citizens of the school district took place Monday night.

I have covered various governmental meetings for the Herald for seven years now. Before that, I covered them in two different states. Here’s something I’ve observed: most people who want to share a concern in a public forum are nervous about that. They’re not public speakers. It takes them a moment or two to muster up their courage when the moment arrives — especially to stand up first. As a constituency of these elected board members, they deserve a moment’s consideration to help get the ball rolling.

Tecumseh City Council is a model place to see such consideration in action. Mayor Harvey Schmidt will deliberately scan the room, ensuring that everyone who wants to be heard will be heard before moving on, whether there is an audience of two or a full house. Maybe it’s “against the rules,” but I’ve even seen the council allow for a comment or two apart from the established time if it might shed some light on the issue being considered, and it’s still done respectfully and professionally.

When I covered Raisin Township board meetings, which unfortunately conflict with TPS meetings, so I can no longer go, I observed Supervisor Carl Wagner allow even frustrated audience members to comment for several minutes, even if it was unpleasant — even if it meant the trustees would have to sit there until 11 p.m., which they sometimes do.
To be fair to the board president, Monday night’s action was an unpleasant business and she probably wanted to move past it as quickly as possible, and in her haste to do so, some hesitant people missed the chance to express what they came out to discuss. Granted, these are hard times with tough decisions to be made and I admire those who fill the seats of these often thankless positions.

But at Tecumseh School Board, snooze, you lose, I guess. If you have a public comment, you have to be prepared to jump up and barge in with it, no matter how nervous you are.
I just think that a school district that is attempting to improve its communications with the public, and even lists it as an annual goal at each year’s retreat, can do a better job of it. A district that is trying to rebuild trust can make sure that the presiding member at least takes a real moment or two to ensure that people who take the time to attend the meeting get more than a rushed opportunity to say their piece. It can be done, and with respect shown on both sides. I don’t think that’s asking too much of any public body that says it welcomes input from the community.