Before members of the public speak at Board of Education meetings, an announcement has been read, generally outlining guidelines for respect and timeliness, for years.

Board of Education Chair Deborra Zukowski has been working on updates to that preamble, and she hopes it will encourage public participation.

Since starting her role as the Board of Education’s chair in December, Zukowski said the tone of public participation began to “nose dive” meeting after meeting.

After her third meeting serving as chair, Zukowski began drafting a new preamble. Reflecting on the changes in a recent phone interview, Zukoski referenced recent public participation comments — most of which have been in support of the district’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programming and some who questioned it — along with hearing from people outside of board meetings who felt too intimidated to speak in public.

The recent climate, with the ongoing pandemic, Zukowski reflected has led to being “a dry forest full of kindling.”

“Anything that comes up and adds incendiary language can add a spark, and I just don’t want to see that spark happen,” the school board chair said.

Zukowski believes preconceptions and miscommunication are at play, and she expressed concern that if members of the public do not share their thoughts with the school board, it can hinder the board or school district from appropriately responding, either following board meetings, in district communications to parents, or in other ways.

“I think [public participation] has a very, very important role. I think it is important that the board understands the concerns of the members of the community,” Zukowski said.

One recent discussion outside a board meeting prompted Zukowski to explain she is a supporter of culturally responsive education, which she defines, at this time, as “providing an educational environment that welcomes all students, staff, and parents; supporting and nurturing students’ sense of self; and ensuring that the curriculum provides students with the information and insight needed for them to be successful in our multicultural nation and world.” The chance meeting outside of a board meeting offered an opportunity for discourse.

“I think it is extremely important that people can voice all of their opinions that are relevant to board business,” said Zukowski, adding that if someone feels silenced on a subject the concern will grow.

With all those things in mind, Zukowski drafted changes to the preamble.

The old version read: “During the first Public Participation, the Board welcomes commentary regarding items on the agenda. After being recognized, please state your name and address for the record. We request that speakers be respectful and limit comments to not more than three minutes. The Board of Education does not discuss personnel items or student matters in public. During the second Public Participation, commentary may address the agenda or may introduce issues for the Board to consider in the future. The Board does not engage in dialogue during either public comment period. If you desire more information or answers to specific questions, please email the BOE: NewtownBOE@newtown.k12.ct.us.”

As of January 19 the latest version read, “As a Board of Education, we have a duty to provide a respectful and equitable public space for all members of our community to share their input with the board. It is my responsibility as chair to facilitate communication between the public and the board within that space. Behaviors — such as loud and disruptive clapping, yelling, or incendiary comments — that in practice quiet opposing views, thwarts the board’s duty to provide a respectful and equitable space for public input. Also, comments from the public to other members of the public have no place in the board’s public participation. If public participation becomes disrespectful or intimidating, I may be forced to close or limit public participation, and instead ask that remaining comments be sent to the board by other means, like e-mail.”

The preamble may be changed again, and at the most recent school board meetings no members of the public have spoken during public participation.

“My hope,” Zukowski wrote in a recent e-mail, “is that there will come a time soon when I can drop the preamble. Unfortunately, I doubt that will happen before we can get back to our normal lives, given the impact that COVID is having on overall civility. That said, based on what happens in each meeting, I may rephrase or reemphasize when it seems prudent.”

Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.