Board approves pilot to hold committee meetings during workshop sessions to increase transparency

At the May 28 workshop, board member Jim proposed piloting a change that would hold committee meetings during regular workshop sessions to increase transparency and ensure all board members hear committee discussions in real time.

"The goal of this kind of redesign ... is to increase transparency and continue to build trust among the board members," Jim said while presenting a sample schedule for August through November. Under the plan, four committees — EPS, facilities, finance and policy — would meet monthly during workshop time; three other committees would meet every other month. Committee minutes would remain separate and be linked to the agenda, and all committee work would be livestreamed and recorded.

Supporters said the model would give the public better access to committee work and simplify scheduling; critics cautioned that the nights could become very long and that detailed policy and finance discussions risk being rushed. "If we're gonna go this route, we need to be really ready to discipline ourselves for the length of the meeting," one board member said. Several members suggested moving time-sensitive action items to the front of the agenda and better public communications about the new format.

After discussion the board indicated consensus to try the pilot beginning in August, with public-notice and communications plans to explain how and when committee items will be heard and when public comment will be taken.