HISD eyeing meeting changes

Houston ISD trustees are considering a proposal to significantly restructure their public meetings, aiming to focus more on student achievement results and reduce the length of meetings that typically last three to five hours.

The proposed changes include limiting the maximum time allocated for public comment and trustee discussion, and shifting some public comment time to meetings where board members do not vote on agenda items. The proposal also calls for trustees to submit written questions they have about agenda items before board meetings, with HISD administrators responding in writing and publicly posting the answers.

Trustee Anne Sung, who spearheaded the proposal, said the changes could improve public engagement prior to votes on issues impacting the district.

“We can hear what you have to say, consider it and really do our due diligence,” Sung said.

Trustees heard the proposal early in Thursday’s school board meeting, but they did not vote on it or hold extended discussions as of press time.

Multiple HISD board members have complained in recent months that their meetings take too long, fail to focus on student outcomes and promote grandstanding by trustees and members of the public. A heated meeting last April, in particular, brought negative attention to the district after

police arrested two people on misdemeanor trespassing and resisting arrest charges when they refused to leave the boardroom. The order came from then-board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who grew frustrated with interruptions by members of the public. The charges later were dropped.

The proposal faced mixed reviews from members of the public Thursday. Some applauded trustees

for refocusing attention to student performance and district practices.

“I think this is a move in the right direction. I think this needs to be one of our biggest priorities,” said Leah Salinas, the mother of a student at Black Middle School.

However, others criticized the potential limitation of public comment. The recommendation calls for a maximum of 60 minutes of public comment during agenda review, when trustees only discuss agenda items, and 30 minutes during regular meetings, when trustees vote on items. If

more people sign up to comment than time allows, speakers would be chosen on a first-come-firstserved basis, with preference given to those who had not addressed the board in the previous 30 days.

Currently, all public comment occurs during regular meetings, with no limitations on the number of speakers and no preference given to those who do not regularly engage in public comment. Speakers are limited to no more than two minutes.

“This is anti-democratic and unacceptable,” said Ryan Booker,

who addressed trustees Thursday. “Democracy requires far more than elections of trustees every few years.”

Trustees hope to create more time to discuss student outcomes, which state officials have urged in recent years. HISD adheres to Lone Star Governance, a state-approved framework that calls for school boards to spend at least half of their time in public meetings addressing student achievement. A state-appointed conservator monitoring HISD’s board meetings has reported that trustees frequently spend less than 10 percent of their time on student outcomes.

Under proposed timelines, agenda review meetings would last about three hours, while regular meetings would take two hours and 30 minutes. Currently, agenda review typically lasts about two to three hours, with regular meetings lasting three to five hours.

As of press time, Thursday’s meeting was still ongoing after four hours and 30 minutes.