Gwyn Gittens

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Community engagement has been an ongoing topic among members of the School Board of Lee County which considered a motion to hold quarterly community meetings.

The request was withdrawn, though, due to a lack of support.

Board member Gwyn Gittens made the motion with a request to instruct the superintendent to work on logistics and provide a report as to how the district could make that happen.

“Basically we have talked about this and kicked the can around many times,” she said.

The suggestion was to have roving town halls that rotate from one part of the county to the next as a way to help the board hear and see constituents and learn about concerns, likes and dislikes and understand what is happening across the district.

After board members said they would not be supporting the motion, Gittens withdrew. Board members agreed that something needs to happen, but wanted staff to provide ideas of innovative ways of communicating with their constituents.

“I think it’s a great idea. In my experience it is a lot of work for staff and many times we have had town halls and meetings in different locations in different zones, but the turnout has been low,” Board member Mary Fischer said.

She said before directing the superintendent, she would like to hear what is being done by the community outreach people. Also, Fischer said there needs to be a topic that will attract people.

We need to “start in the East Zone when we do it,” she said. 

Board Chair Debbie Jordan also agreed it was a great idea, as they all need to be out in the community and engaged.

“People do need a reason to rally and come together,” she said.

Board member Betsy Vaughn said although it was a great idea, they really have not looked at the pros and cons. She said to have a quarterly town hall is just “too loosie goosey for me.”

“We have an initiative to get more public involvement and I haven’t seen how we are doing that in an innovative way,” she said. “To me doing another forum is just another way we have been doing things all along. I would personally like to see something more innovative.”

Gittens said having the motion is to get it on the books and to get something started.

“If we don’t make some statement about it, we will meet and meet and figure and figure and think and think and at this time next year we will be in the same place,” she said.

Board member Cathleen O’Daniel Morgan understood Gittens frustration as they talk around the topic a lot and never get anywhere.

“In my area where I tend to see people there is a not a lot of engagement unless you give people something to engage about. I think we do need to have something. I believe we need to do more work on it before I am prepared to support it,” she said.