Delphi Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees President Robert Resler cast the deciding vote to prohibit public comments during board discussions of individual topics following ardent discussion at a special meeting last Tuesday. Resler introduced the second of the only two agenda items by explaining he was approached by two board members about moving the time the public is allowed to speak and not allowing anyone to comment during discussions about specific issues.

Board member Jerry Sparks opened the discussion with a question.

"Why do this?" he asked each board member to respond. "Why now?"

Nick Cronk explained he supported the restriction. He said the public could comment at the beginning or the end of the meeting, but not when members were deliberating specific issues. He said the board should not have to give way to public comments during the business portion of the meeting because that practice lengthens discussions.

"The agenda gets really drug out," he said. "I feel strongly about that."

Cronk emphasized he was not against the public speaking at the meetings altogether, just during discussions.

"The goal is to clean up the business portion of the meeting," he added.

Jim Garrison said he agreed with Cronk. He said board meetings are "private meetings held in public" and suggested the public be allowed to speak at the beginning of the meetings. He said he wanted to hear what the public has to say, but not during the business meeting. Garrison said he surveyed surrounding corporations and DCSC has a very liberal public comments policy in comparison.

Sparks questioned if all comments, including those from teachers, administrators and students would also be censored from the meeting. When Resler began to answer, Sparks said, for the president to enter into the discussion, he would have to surrender the gavel by virtue of Roberts Rules of Order.

"I'll make it simple," Resler replied. "I won't make any comments and you'll probably regret you didn't get to hear my comments."

Sparks said an open meeting should be "open to all."

"I don't care what other corporations do," he said. "People have a right to speak. The public has a right to ask questions."

"We have to let the sun shine in," he added.

Board member Bill Trueblood expressed agreement with Sparks.

"The board recognized the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on corporation matters," he read from a prepared statement. "I am not in favor of any action that would diminish allowing members of the public to express themselves during our meetings."

School corporation patron Shawn Ashby, who attends meetings regularly and asks questions during discussions, disagreed with the possible restriction.

"Why would anyone want to attend this meeting if they can't ask questions on each topic as it's being discussed?" he asked. "Why just come and sit?"

He alleged some board members' goal was to "shut three of us up." He requested board packets, minus personnel information, be posted on the corporation Web site for pubic inspection.

Everett Snoberger, another patron who generally attends meetings and contributes to discussions agreed with Ashby.

"It would be detrimental to eliminate public comments at the agenda items," he said. "I'd like to see it remain just like it is."

Snoberger cited several cost-savings examples which resulted from audience member's participation in discussions about corporation building maintenance issues.

Garrison made the motion to limit public comments to the beginning of the meeting. Cronk gave the second. Melinda Rossetter voted with the two and Sparks, Trueblood and Chris Nipple voted against the measure. Resler provided the tie-breaker to set the policy.

"We have to get back to a point when the trustees conduct their business and move on," he said.

Resler explained that in the past board members "have been shot down" and received little respect from some audience members.

The third party mentioned by Ashby as the target of the measure, Kirk Swartzkopf, spoke after the vote to restrict public comments was taken. He said someone from the board called his employer who was told to "tell him to leave school board business alone." Swartzkopf said prosecution was expected when the telephone number from which the call emanated was verified.

"The number is being traced and the caller will be prosecuted," he said. "It's hard to work together when people are threatened."

Elementary building project

Superintendent Ralph Walker was granted permission to advertise for bids on improvements at Delphi Elementary School and Camden Early Childhood Education Center.

"This commits the board to nothing," Walker advised.

He said the goal was to begin the project at both buildings on the last day of school this spring. It was noted in reply to a question from patron, and retired Carroll School teacher Steve Ashby, the loan for the project would be retired in 2014 with a 2.55 percent interest rate.

Project objectives are to expand parking and redesign the entrance adding key cards and security cameras at the elementary school. Perimeter windows and intercom system will be replaced at Camden. Surveillance cameras inside and outside along with other security measures will be added to the building. Some unit ventilators for will be replaced.

"The majority of the work is to be done at Camden," Resler said.

The next meeting will be March 9 at 7 p.m. in the high school commons.

The board will vote to uphold a community committee's curriculum decision to retain three books in the junior class language arts program. Some parents objected to "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison, "In Country" by Bobbie Ann Mason and "Chinese Handcuffs" by Chris Crutchen being taught as part of the course work. Per school corporation policy, those who object to the committee ruling could appeal the decision, which they did. The board of school trustees will make the final ruling.