Board of Ed Community Forum Open to the Public

As the Board of Education gears up to tackle one of its most challenging budget seasons, members will meet with Pelham residents and leaders to find out what they can’t live without on Saturday.

Board of Education member Douglas Hearle first introduced the concept of the early last month. The aim was to spend a morning hearing from representatives of every local organization—from the PTA to neighborhood asscociations—about what they value most when it comes to the school budget. While the forum has received an overwhelming response, Hearle said at Monday night’s board meeting that there is space for individuals who would like to participate in the open dialogue.

In order to foster an open environment, seating at the event will be completely random, so that members from varying organizations and backgrounds can meet each other and learn about one another’s priorities. A member from the school board or the administration will be assigned to each table, and financial experts will be on hand to demystify any complicated issues.

“We’ll be able to move this activity along in a very logical and facilitated manner,” Hearle noted. “The one thing we don’t want it to do is to become a debate. We want it to be an exchange of ideas.”

For those who can’t attend Saturday’s event, there will be recorders taking notes and once the data is compiled, it will be made public.

“Anybody who’s not at the forum will have access to the forum,” said Hearle.

The forum is scheduled to take place on Saturday Feb. 12 fro 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Cafeteria C in Pelham Memorial High School. Interested in attending? Email forum@pelhamschools.org or call District Clerk Stevie Pollock at 738 3434 ext 1155.