PENNINGTON: School board changes hearings process

Both public hearings are open to any topic now

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   Any topic may be addressed during both public hearings held during Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education meetings, the board decided Monday night.
   The board’s vote in favor of the change was unanimous.
   For many years, two public hearings have been held during school board meetings — the first during the early part of the meeting and the second, near the end of the meeting.
   Prior to the change made Monday night, public comment during the first public hearing was restricted to items on the board’s agenda, printed copies of which are available at board meetings and online prior to the meeting.
   Anyone who wanted to address an issue not on the agenda had to wait until the second public hearing. That wait could run as long as four or more hours.
   Now, both public hearings are open to any topic. This change brings the board back to where it was many years ago. That procedure was scrapped after a number of public hearings ran so long that the board could not get down to its official business until the meeting was several hours old.
   ALSO at Monday night’s meeting, Hopewell Township resident William Schoelwer urged the board to consider having no school on the date of the November general election, or to make that day an in-service day for teachers and staff.
   Mr. Schoelwer, who has worked at polling stations in the township for many years, said crowding was a significant problem at Hopewell and Stony Brook elementary schools this year. Both schools are polling stations, which mean people come to vote while school is in session.