The Tucson Unified School District Governing Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to keep the option of written โcall to the audienceโ comment submissions.
The board was considering eliminating the option and requiring that people who want to be heard at call to the audience show up and speak in person. Several audience members spoke at the meeting against that proposal.
Kirsten Cummins, a TUSD employee, said she was advocating for those with different abilities, including nonverbal members of the autistic community, those with speech impediments and members of the deaf community.
She said members of these groups and others often communicate through signing, assistive devices โand so much more.โ
Cummins also noted, โThere are some for who being in a large room full of people is an actual barrier.โ
Board member Natalie Luna Rose said hearing Cumminsโ comments influenced her opinion.
โThere is a contingency that I would hate to for them to miss out. I think sometimes weโve been a little short-sighted in not thinking that through,โ she said.
The decision was not made without debate.
Governing Board President Ravi Shah emphasized the proposed policy changes were not forms of censorship, and said the board is not required to offer a call to the audience.
He added, โWe have a lot of ways for people to communicate with us.โ
โThey can email us at any time,โ Luna Rose said.
Board member Sadie Shaw said, โThis is what we were duly elected to do: To hear the public and take action off of what they see and hear around the district.โ
Board member Val Romero said itโs also important that such comments from the public be entered into the public record of the meetings.
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