Dear Editor:

If anyone wonders why public participation at meetings is so limited, they need look no further than the most recent school board meeting. At that meeting, the chair attempted to implement a policy under which members of the public could make comments but would not receive answers to their questions. The chair also stated that she set the agenda with the superintendent but neither committed to including every item requested by other board members. In addition, important documents were frequently distributed with little or no time for members to review them in advance.

This needs to change.

The school board and trustee boards would do well to take a page from the playbooks of the selectboards of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. Both towns run efficient, transparent meetings. Both boards listen to the public and answer questions whenever possible—an approach that is not only efficient but also builds trust.

In these towns, financial audits are made public routinely and the CPA regularly attends meetings to explain the findings. The Harbor town manager provides a complete financial report, including the status of bank accounts. Most importantly, each elected official is allowed to speak, vote, and add items to the agenda without requiring approval from the board chair.

Public trust depends on openness, transparency, and respect for both elected officials and the citizens they serve. I urge board members and the public to demand meaningful change.

Denise Griffin

Boothbay Harbor