“School Board meetings are held in the public, but are not meetings of the public. While we may call on your participation during board agenda items, the public does not have the right to speak or interrupt our board meetings. Please refer to the public forum part of this handout for instructions on your participation during public forums. ” “Iowa Code 21.7 states that the board can make their own rules of conduct to assure that meetings are orderly. We request that all individuals in attendance at board meetings act in a courteous and professional manner.”

These are two excerpts from the BCLUW School’s website. On Wednesday morning I contemplated attending the 7am to understand how my proposed 27.66% property tax levy increase was going to be utilized. $48 to $62 per thousand of valuation is a significant increase. I was curious if there were new buses being purchased, maybe the educators were being given well deserved compensation increases, or maybe the HVAC system was being replaced, or was there something else being planned for after the prior bond issue was rejected.

Instead, I prepared for my own public meeting as I serve as a Hardin County Supervisor. I prepared for numerous items including our weekly public comment portion of the meeting that allows individuals to address our board. We have individuals desiring to speak sign up as they enter the meeting. No screening, no topics off limits, and yes, we answer questions from our constituents. In Hardin County, we held a one hour and forty minute budget hearing where I believe everyone left with answers(not always what they wanted to hear), but I did my job, I answered to the people that elected me for my third four year term.

I decided to head to Eldora instead of Conrad at 6:30AM for a 7:00AM public meeting.(That’s an issue for another time.)

I found out later from the lone two men that spoke during the “public hearing” budget statements were allowed but questions such as those mentioned above were not. They couldn’t even ask what the wage increase was for certified staff, or wages for the amazing team of bus drivers,food service workers, or paraeducators. Questions weren’t allowed.

I’m familiar with Iowa Code Chapter 21, and after conferring with legal counsel Wednesday the BCLUW board’s “public hearing” isn’t governed by Chapter 21 like the regular meetings, instead legal counsel described this as “bad governance.”

I’d prefer to address this directly with the board, but 7am meetings when set for 5pm back in July aren’t conducive for most of us and I wanted to address it sooner than later and not have to fill out a form in order to have my taxation with alleged representation voice be heard. As an elected official I fully understand that being on a board or commission takes a servant’s heart and I appreciate that. Unfortunately, giving constituents and taxpayers a forum and platform to professionally and politely ask questions, educate themselves, and offer constructive feedback and criticism is discouraged within the BCLUW administration. Going forward I ask all taxpayers in every school district to get involved, remind your school board that they work for you, remind them that the superintendent and administration works for that school board and not vice versa.

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BJ Hoffman of rural Liscomb serves on the Hardin County Board of Supervisors.