Board of Education Will Vote On New Meeting Time

The Board of Education will put a new meeting time to a vote when they meet again next week on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Jefferson Primary Center.

Board member Eleanor Doyle suggested the change during her operations committee report, citing one of the reasons for the proposed change being that several school administrators, including Superintendent Nathan Parker, live quite a distance form Summit and get home very late after meetings.

But Parker was quick to say his support of the change had nothing to do with the personal ramifications it would have for him. Instead, he would like to see meetings begin earlier so the board can accommodate presentations and attendance by young children.

"It's a big disincentive," Parker said of the current 8 p.m. start time. When the board has a presentation by younger students they often do not get home until 9 or 9:30 p.m.

Councilman Andy Lark was in attendance and said that both the zoning board and common council have changed their meeting times to 7:30 p.m. with "no incident."

Both Patricia Calhoun and Michelle Stevenson did raise concerns that an earlier start time but be a disincentive for some people to apply to be on the board or to attend because they are commuting from New York City and are eating dinner and finishing kids' homework later.

If the board passes the measure next week, it would take effect at the board's meeting on Nov. 12 at the Wilson School Board Meeting Room.