Credit the Jefferson City Board of Education with taking a step to improve communications.
In any institutional setting, communication and openness are necessary to build trust, achieve consensus and generate improvements.
The seven-member board this summer is expected to hear recommendations from the board's policy committee, which includes John Ruth, board president, and members Doug Whitehead and Pam Murray.
One item the panel will review is the existing board practice of restricting patron comments during the open forum section of board meetings.
Speakers now are asked to address specific items on the agenda and typically are limited to five minutes. Traditionally, board members listen but do not respond to speakers.
"Historically, we've taken speakers' ideas and concerns under advisement," Ruth said. "Our own policy may be preventing us from having as good communication as we would like."
Ruth said the board is committed to continuous improvement in all areas and said it is time to explore "possible improvement in the area of board communication."
Added Steve Bruce, another board member, the goal is to make the process "more user-friendly so the board can communicate clearly" with parents and patrons.
We have criticized some board practices that impede communication, including the tendency for the board president to serve as the singular voice for a united board. Voters elect board members independently precisely so decisions will be honed by dissent and differences of opinion voiced at board meetings.
We welcome the board's effort to make the process more open and more inclusive. Communication requires dialogue, not monologue.
The Jefferson City Public School District is very good, but challenges remain. Among those challenges is improving communications among board members, administrators, faculty, patrons, parents and students.
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