Edison Board of Ed President Jerry 'No Public Comment Allowed' Shi needs to Step Down!

For calling a public meeting on insurance costs which asks for public comments and then blocking those public comments before the board vote, Jerry Shi should step down as Board of Ed President. The precedent that this sets is mind boggling dangerous!

Your comments only matter to this guy after they vote:

So, Wake Up People. This is as bad as it gets when the public is blocked from commenting on any action the board is about to take. I have sent Mr. Shi an email requesting that he step down as Board President and you should consider doing the same.

'Board President Shi,
With all due respect, I find your decision to block public comment before the vote on the above to be quite disconcerting and unacceptable. It sets a very bad precedent and what, every time you think something is the way to go, you’re going to block public comment before the board votes?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for getting the spending efficiency under control and applaud the board for seeking out opportunities to do so. A claim of reducing insurance costs by some $3.5 million is quite admirable if it turns out to be true as you say -  equal to or better than the existing policies for medical, dental and prescription. Both the district and and those employees contributing to insurance will see a reduction in costs.

I also recognize that the resident/taxpayers will not see any of this $3.5 million in reduced costs come back to them in the form of school tax relief but it will just repurpose to another budget line. Let’s hope the $3.5 million is put back into the classrooms and not buried away, hoarded or used for some other less than efficient purpose.

However, just because you had timing and board member problems or you had the right to do something like this doesn’t justify your calling a public meeting and then excluding the public from asking questions and making comments on something this important to all the residents/ taxpayers and all the stakeholders before you voted.

What? Trust you, it’s the right thing to do? The end never justifies the means unless you’re hoping the means are forgotten. Whether you’re right or wrong on this exclusion, you should never presume the public shouldn’t have an opportunity to be heard before you vote on any issue in the school district.

Right, wrong or indifferent, I find what you did to be shameful and I disrespectful to all the people of this town and I call on you to resign you position as Edison Board of Education President.'

Anyhoo, if you're a taxpayer in this town, this action by the board should send shivers down your spine!