Attending school board meetings without physically being present could become a virtual reality for public officials.
The Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 School District will pursue electronic appearances at future board meetings when they meet tonight. The 7 p.m. public meeting is held at the old Downey School on Elm Street.
According to the proposal, board members could appear “via telephone, video or audio conference, or other electronic device” twice per academic year with a stipulated three-day notice.
“It’s a good tool to have in the box, I guess,” said board treasurer Pete Montano when presented with the initial proposal last month.
Last fall, four board members – Montano, President Tim Lanier, Brian Demby and Sherri Wright – each missed one board meeting. Vice-president Jack Schuenemeyer missed two meetings. Diane Fox had the worst attendance, missing four of seven meetings last fall. Only Secretary Eric Whyte attended every meeting since the start of the 2014-15 academic year.
The proposed policy would limit electronic participation “only when extenuating circumstances prevent the board member from physically attending.” Qualifying circumstances to appear electronically aren’t included in the draft proposal for Feb. 17.
State law requires the board to declare a post vacant if a board member has three consecutive unexcused absences.
The Re-1 board previously met twice per month until they voted to hold one monthly meeting starting in November 2014.
The board also is expected to act on a resolution that provides Re-1 with exclusive authority over charter schools as well as a resolution that addresses government mandated testing.