I recently attended a ConVal school board meeting during which the solar energy initiative and its prospective warrant article were discussed. I attend school board meetings occasionally when a matter of special import to me will be considered. Of course, many other district residents also occasionally attend these meetings, in various numbers: sometimes just a dozen, and at other times, up to a few dozen. My attendance at this meeting reminded me of a perennial problem with respect to hearing the issues being discussed in this body.
There is no amplification of the voices of the superintendent and school board members, and this is a cause of great concern for me and many others who have voiced the same frustration to me. The “audience” sits at one end of the large conference room, and it is near impossible to hear some of the school board members’ comments. Some members speak very quietly and/or quickly, and their comments are lost on the audience.
This is a disservice to those residents who make the effort to attend the meetings and stay apprised of important school district issues.
Respectfully, I would like to request that the school district/board install a sound system with microphones or other type of amplification for use by each and every school board member, so that residents of the district attending school board meetings can hear all details of every issue that is discussed.
I think this is a matter of public concern, and hope that the school district/board will seriously consider this request.
Martha Eichler
Peterborough