Our elected representatives are supposed to represent the people who elect them. There will certainly be times when our elected representatives vote, or do not share our views on an issue. I think we all know how that works. But what happens when those you elect, decide that they do not want to hear from you.
Erika Cohen seems to be taking her role as Derry School Board Chair to a new level.
As someone who frequently testifies before the New Hampshire House and Senate Education Committees, I found Cohen’s behavior at a recent school board meeting appalling. Granted the Chinese might welcome this kind of behavior from their comrades, in a free society where we elect our representatives to serve us, her behavior is appalling.
First parents must sit there for hours waiting to speak. They also have a foolish policy that says those who choose to sit there and speak, can only speak to items that are on the agenda. Nothing like limiting the speech from the public!
The courts have ruled that speakers can be limited on time and subject matter. However, those limits normally apply to someone who decides to get up and speak about subjects that have nothing to do with the school system. For instance, if a resident wanted to talk about the war between Ukraine and Russia, everyone would expect the Chair to limit those comments. But what about parents and residents who want to share their concerns about what is happening in the school? Erika Cohen has made it clear, she will only entertain topics that are either on the agenda, or topics she happens to like.
If you fast forward to 2:35:46, you will hear an exchange between a parent in Derry and the Board Chair. The parent brought a few topics to the Board, but when he addressed the abortion poster that was placed on the wall of the school recently. Cohen then shut down his comments. She said since the abortion poster wasn’t on the agenda, he could not speak about it. He then reminded her that he has asked that it be placed on the agenda, but that request was rejected too. It seems like the good Comrade has made it impossible for this parent to ever bring his concerns to the school board.
I understand that some of these issues are not easy to hear about, but this parent was calm, respectful and wanted to be heard. One would expect parents to share their concerns during the school board meeting, but not under her watch. Who came up with this foolish policy to begin with? This policy should be reversed immediately. It restricts the free speech from those who pay taxes to run this school. Why run for the school board if you don’t want to hear about concerns from the community? Board members are there to serve their constituents.
Brenda Willis, who also serves on the board, was the only one with enough courage to assist the parent in an effort to hear his concerns. Public comments made during a school board meeting are the best way for parents and community members to address their concerns in a way that will result in action. But if you can’t share those concerns, how can anything get resolved?
One would think that a concerned and respectful parent in the community would be treated with a certain level of respect. The policy itself is disrespectful to the people paying taxes in Derry. To then pick and choose what concerns a parent can bring to the school board, tells the community that the Board Chair is going to dictate who is allowed to share their concerns about what is going on in the school, and who is not. They don’t care if you have concerns about how your money is being spent. So much for supporting and respecting the democratic process.
The message is clear to the taxpayers in Derry, pay your taxes but keep your mouth shut.
I would personally contact an attorney to talk about free speech rights during these public meetings. Based on court rulings, judges tend to side with the public when it comes to their objections to their speech being limited. But that will take money out of the pocket of parents, so they tend to walk away frustrated and angry. The Board Chair will use taxpayer funded attorneys to defend the district if they are sued, taking advantage of the taxpayers in the community. It’s no wonder they act like tyrants instead of representatives.
I’d suggest that the Board Chair take a trip to Concord, and watch how our State officials conduct public meetings. Learn some decorum and respect for the public who took their time to address the committees. For those who do not want to listen to the concerns from parents and residents, maybe you shouldn’t have run for office in the first place.
