The Commerce Board of Education missed its chance last Wednesday night to build public support for its plan for a new high school.
In a clearly orchestrated event, the board used its panel of architects, attorneys and others to refute concerns raised by citizens about the school’s design, refused to let the public ask questions and approved a prepared-in-advance motion to proceed with the school construction.
The presentations, particularly by the architects, appeared to answer most of the concerns raised by People Excited About Commerce Education (PEACE). Then two things happened. First, former board chairman Steve Perry insulted the group for its audacity in questioning the design. Second, the board of education refused to let citizens ask questions or make comments. The parents, alumni and others who were interested enough to attend the meeting left enraged, and the school board came across as weak and cowardly.
That’s a shame, because the school officials, architects and attorneys who addressed the issues raised by PEACE appeared competent and thorough and should have been able to adequately answer lingering questions. But by refusing to allow questions when it had the professionals on hand to answer them, the board lost rather than gained traction.
Then, when member Bill Davis read a prepared motion, it was clear that Wednesday night’s meeting was held only to fulfill a promise made to PEACE to respond to its written concerns. The school board was actually committed to not engaging citizens in discussion about the most important construction project in Commerce in the past 50 years.
The board blew the chance to decisively demonstrate the validity of its process and its design with its cowardly action in refusing questions. What did it fear? The presentations of its consultants (and staff) were, for the most part, strong and credible. It had presented sound responses to the group’s concerns. It should have welcomed questions from the audience because it had the expertise on hand to deal with all concerns. Because it feared to let its audience speak, the board’s credibility in the community among some of the school system’s strongest supporters is greatly diminished. Restoration of respect for the board of education require more time than the construction of a new high school and may prove to be the greater challenge.
