BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Playback58@gmail.com

 

ISLE OF WIGHT—The Isle of Wight County School Board during its Thursday meeting chose not to reduce residents’ speaking time from five minutes to three minutes.

During the October meeting, Windsor District School Board Member Julia Perkins brought up the proposal to save time. The measure passed 4-1, with Hardy District Board Member Herb DeGroft opposed.

As a matter of procedure, the proposed change was revisited on Thursday.

“What is to be gained by three minutes to limiting the voices of stakeholders,” Carrollton resident Amy Jones asked the board. “It’s sending a very wrong message, that stakeholders’ voices don’t matter. Leave it at five minutes.”

DeGroft suggested adding two extra minutes if speakers need the extra time.

Perkins then withdrew her proposal.

“In retrospect, now I do believe we are sending the wrong message,” she said. “I made a mistake, I think.”