CARMEL, Ind. — Carmel Clay Schools will not offer a time for public comment at its next school board meeting on Aug. 23.
The start time for the meeting has also been moved from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Carmel Clay Schools announced the changes in an email to parents, saying the move is in response to “disruptions, verbal attacks, intimidation, inappropriate behavior and the presence of a firearm by an attendee at recent school board meetings,” according to Current in Carmel.
“While meetings will remain open to the public, the repeated use of board meetings to advance outside agendas, promote division and create hostile environments, combined with email and social media threats to staff and board members has led to these needed temporary changes,” the email said.
Under Indiana state law, school boards are not required to allow public comment at meetings, except on matters such as public hearings. There are no public hearings scheduled for the meeting on Aug. 23, according to Current in Carmel.
Anyone attending the meeting will be expected to go through a metal detector. Masks or face coverings will be required and no signs or banners will be allowed in the building.
