The Newburgh City School District policy committee on May 15 voted to send proposed changes to the district's public-comment rules to the full board for a first reading. The committee approved moving public comments on agenda items and reducing speaking time from five minutes to three minutes so more people can speak.

The changes would move comments on agenda items to before district business and move public comment on nine agenda items to after district business is complete, reduce individual speaker time from five minutes to three minutes to allow up to 10 speakers rather than six, and clarify that speakers may not use obscene language or make defamatory statements that "are known to be false." The committee also discussed lifting a prior restriction that prevented community members from speaking about district personnel by name; under the proposed change speakers may address personnel matters but could face legal risk if they make defamatory statements.

Board attorney Mr. Shaw cautioned the committee about legal exposure, saying, "But if they say something defamatory, they could be liable for defamation. Now, the Board of Ed couldn't be because if you have a public speaking forum, the law protects the government, but it does not protect the speaker. They go at their own risk." The committee also heard that three-minute limits are common in other districts; Mr. Shaw said, "3 minutes is pretty common. I've I've seen 5 minutes occasionally."

Discussion focused on balancing more participants with fairness and courtesy; one committee member suggested that speakers requiring more time should submit written materials to the board. A motion to refer the proposed public-comment changes to the full board for a first reading was made by Board member 2 and seconded by Board member 1; the committee recorded affirmative roll-call responses and moved the policy forward.

The full board will consider the proposed changes at its next regular meeting as a first reading. No final policy adoption took effect at the committee meeting.