North Allegheny School Board's in-person-only comment period began Jan. 19

The North Allegheny School Board allowed only in-person public comments at its meeting Jan. 19 as it returned to its pre-pandemic procedures for meeting location and public comment periods.

Those procedures allow only people attending school board meetings in-person to deliver public comments.

Some North Allegheny residents expressed their concern with the change.

Jon Parker, of McCandless, said he was “disappointed” with the board’s decision to only have in-person speakers.

“Surely, there’s a much more inclusive selection than only allowing in-person speakers,” Parker said. “It’s not at all difficult to make meetings and public comments more accessible.”

Shreya Pant, an NA student, who represented the Diversity at NA initiative, said being able to call-in during virtual meetings made it easier for students who could not attend.

Registration for speaking is requested, but not necessary.

After state government restricted public gatherings in March 2020 because of rapidly escalating covid cases, the board began meeting virtually on April 15 that year. Residents could call in with public comments during the designated public speaking period, according to Brandi Smith, NASD public relations and communications specialist.

When the board began to meet again in-person on Oct. 28, 2020, it allowed residents to either attend or observe online, and residents could speak either in-person or by phone. That system lasted until Dec. 8 of last year.

Since state-imposed restrictions have been lifted on public gatherings, the NASD School Board returned to in-person-only public comments. Board procedures are listed on the www.northallegheny.org , according to Smith.

The board also returned to its original meeting location at the Central Administrative Offices at Hillvue Lane, beginning Jan. 19. They had been meeting in the high school auditorium.

The board requested that everyone attending school board meetings be fully masked as required by a recent temporary restraining issued by a federal judge that ordered the school district to keep mandatory masking requirements.

The school board on Dec. 8, 2021, had eased mandatory masking requirements to make masking strongly recommend masks.

Board President Rick McClure noted that while electronic communications has made it easier to share thoughts and comments, it can also be used as an anonymous platform “from which rules of civility may not be followed.”

“I only ask that individuals wishing to offer insights, do so while realizing that each person involved in the operation of this district, does so out of a passion for ensuring the best outcome for the students. We do not need to agree on every detail, but we should be able to discuss our options and opinions openly and respectfully,” he said.

McClure recognized the hard work of board members, administration, professional staff, support staff and elected officials. He also acknowledged the hard work by the school district’s nursing staff.

“I want to recognize the amazing efforts of the nurses who have been stretched beyond reasonable limits to address each case,” said McClure.

Since returning from winter break, COVID-19 infections have reached record levels in Allegheny County, according to Dr. Dan Swoger, interim director of student services.

“This has resulted in an increase in communication between our families and staff to our district nursing staff for a multitude of reasons such as reporting a covid positive status, symptoms, or quarantine as a result of being a close contact to an infected individual outside of school,” Swoger said.

Previously, individuals would call into their building nurse to report a case. Now, the district updated the way it receives positive COVID-19 test results to help streamline the process for the health department at the district and for purposes of contract tracing or absence, he said.

Each building has at least one main and one support nurse, with the high schools having two of each, according to the district website.