Spring Cove Debates Dating Policy | News, Sports, Jobs

ROARING SPRING — A review of the policy on board members attending board meetings electronically and its limits sparked heated debate at Monday night’s Spring Cove School District board meeting.

The policy, entitled “006.1 Attendance at Meetings by Electronic Communications,” is available for public viewing on the school district’s board website. It states that a member could attend and participate in a board meeting “via electronic communications, but only in extraordinary circumstances” such as “illness, travel, schedule conflicts, weather conditions and other emergencies” .

The policy also states that a board member participating electronically will only be considered present if they can hear everything that is said, if everyone can hear them, most members are physically present, attend the entire meeting, submit a request to attend from distance to the chairman of the board at least three days before the meeting and ensure that their location is quiet and free from background noise.

Board member Kevin Smith said he had a problem with the policy.

“I’d like to know why it’s being revised and words added,” Smith said. “I would like to ask the board if any of them had any problems hearing from (board member Misti Fisher) or communicating with Misti by phone as described in the policy?”

Fisher has not personally attended a school board meeting since being sworn in for his first term on Dec. 4, 2023.

“I don’t think there’s any indication that anyone violated the policy,” Inspector Betsy Baker said.

Board President Troy Wright expressed concern about being able to adequately address public concerns if board members always attended meetings electronically. He said the question asked of them by district residents is if someone can run for a seat on the school board, “then they call electronically and how long can you do that?”

“Part of being an elected official is coming out here and dealing with people,” Wright said. “Also, after the meeting, they can come and ask each of us questions, concerns. The media can come and ask you why you voted a certain way.”

Wright then asked Smith if he thought a council member should be able to serve his full four-year term and “never set foot” in the council chamber, to which Smith said “no, I don’t agree with this”. Baker chimed in and added that based on current policy, it wouldn’t be allowed regardless.

Wright again asked if there should be limitations or structure, and Smith said he looked at the same policy in seven other school districts, which all follow the same policy.

Council members continued to discuss the policy and were unable to reach a consensus after more than half an hour of back-and-forth. Smith repeatedly hinted at targeting Fisher, despite members saying no one had been named. He also said there was a lack of transparency because members of the public did not raise their concerns with all board members, that it was “kind of funny” that the policy was “revised 39 days after (former member of board Brian Gahagan) spoke” to the board on June 10 and assured Board Vice President Amy Acker-Knisely that he would continue to sue her.

Member Andrea Moses got the meeting back on track by asking Dambeck what the consequences would be to the council member if the policy were implemented within a time frame. Dambeck said that as elected officials, board members cannot be disciplined and that dismissals vary by status.

“We want to be compassionate because I think there is a compassionate side to this,” Acker-Knisely said. “But how long are you going? Is it six months? Is that all the time you are sitting as a council member?”

Board members then reiterated how facing the public is part of the job, to which Fisher said “that’s not what it’s about.”

“If anybody wants to confront me about something, go ahead,” Fisher said. “I’m not against that, that’s not what it’s about. If anyone wants to talk to me about it, I’ll be happy to talk to them about it.”

The first reading of the policy was then voted on and passed 5-4. Members Amy Acker-Knisely, John Biddle, Charles Gojmerac, Linda Smith and Troy Wright voted yes, while members Gretchen Bettwy, Misti Fisher, Andrea Moses and Kevin Smith voted no.

However, before the meeting had a chance to progress, Fisher asked “so the medical records don’t matter?”

“If you’re not well enough to attend board meetings, then the consideration is, ‘You’re well enough to serve,'” Dambeck said.

Fisher then interrupted Dambeck, speaking loudly to tell him “that’s your opinion”.

“That’s an opinion,” Fisher said. “That’s not a fact, it’s an opinion.”

Dambeck said there are “clear restrictions” that “the law provides on not attending board meetings” as the COVID-19 disaster declarations have been removed.

“You still have to have the physical bodies here so they can have the forums to hold the meeting again,” Dambeck said.

Fisher did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The attendance policy will be on the school board agenda for the Sept. 16 meeting.