Three Minute Public Comment Made By Attorney Charles Berger At EVSC Board Meeting

Three Minute Public Comment Made By Attorney Charles Berger At EVSC Board Meeting

I introduced myself and explained I had sent a letter on October 1, 2019, to President Karen Ragland requesting a place on the Meeting Agenda to be able to address the Board so we could communicate since in the Public session there is no discussion or feedback from the Board, just the Board members sitting their silent.

I then discussed the fact that the Executive Sessions for each meeting last approximately twice as long as the public meeting which is contrary to the intent of the Indiana Open Door statute and the EVSC’s own policy of creating an atmosphere open communication with the citizens they serve. I suggested they should be addressing changes to change this or it might be changed for them.

I then focused on the fact that they have a “Good News Report” in each meeting. I suggested a “Not So Good News Report” should be added to update the public on the unacceptable level of performance of almost half of all elementary schools. There are twenty-two elementary schools and ten of them mostly from the underserved community of the EVSC have never achieved even a grade of “C” in the last four years. I had previously requested in an open record request the expenditure per school and was advised it did not exist as I had requested but I could search for it in the budget. I have not been told in communication from Superintendent Smith if it might be in the future.

I ended by suggesting they explain why there is no anti-nepotism policy for the Administrative Positions. I also advised them that I would return.

Sincerely,

Charlie Berger