OAK HARBOR: In our opinion: School board should not hide behind OPMA fallacy (WNT)

The Whidbey News-Times published an editorial on May 27, 2023 rebuking the directors of the Oak Harbor School District for their lack of response to students protesting a principal’s decision at their May 22, 2023 board meeting.

A couple of Oak Harbor High School students went before the school board this week to protest the principal’s decision to veto the drama club’s decision to perform “The Laramie Project,” a play that depicts a community’s reaction to a young gay man’s murder. The play was deemed to be neither age nor school appropriate, even though it’s been performed at schools across the state and the nation and contains material that is straight from the nightly news.

So what was the board’s response? Did they commend the students for their bravery in speaking up or their civic-mindedness? Did they have a robust discussion on a sticky issue? Did they even acknowledge the students?

Nope, the board members were mum. They claimed that their policy prevents them from responding to public comment.

They Said It

At the very least, the board could have acknowledged the concerns. They could have asked for a discussion to be added to a future agenda….

…[I]t’s just good, responsive government. Responses don’t have to take up a lot of time or descent into a back-and-forth discussion. For members of the public, just knowing you were heard is valuable.

The school board members, who are all up for election this year, should consider this and not hide behind a fallacy.

On the Ballot in August 2023