{"1":{"name":"Your Name","value":"Wendy Lovell","id":1,"type":"name","first":"Wendy","middle":"","last":"Lovell"},"3":{"name":"Email Address","value":"wendy_lovell@rockbridge.k12.va.us","id":3,"type":"email"},"2":{"name":"Phone","value":"+15404603039","id":2,"type":"phone"},"5":{"name":"I am a:","value":"School board member","value_raw":"School board member","id":5,"type":"checkbox"},"6":{"name":"School division:","value":"Rockbridge","id":6,"type":"text"},"4":{"name":"Message","value":"I'm writing to see if VSBA is getting request from other divisions about the rise in constituents taking advantage of the public comment sections of their meetings to spew hate, peddle false information and excoriate their boards and administrators for a host of issues that just are not happening in our schools. In Rockbridge, we have come to expect members of the community lambasting us for bringing critical race theory into our schools, the model policies for the treatment of transgender students and the equity initiative. We can certainly let this hatred roll off our backs, but it has cast a dark shadow over our meetings and as chair, I often feel frustrated at knowing when to step in and cut it off. Case in point, a member of our community used his two minutes last night to read scripture, point his finger at all of us and insinuate we are all going to hell. I am certain we aren't alone, and quite frankly, I've seen news stories about what is happening at board meetings in other divisions that make me glad I serve in Rockbridge.\r\nWhile I am not suggesting we stifle public comment, I would love to see guidance from VSBA on how to better manage public comment. We are getting complaints from a small group who fights us every month that our 5 pm meeting time is too early and our 2-minute limit for public comment is too short. The complaints are coming from the same small group of people mainly who are retired and are just pushing someone else's agenda. The same group also uses the term indoctrination to describe what they think we are teaching our students. This is my sixth year on the board and I have never witnessed anything like what we have dealt with since the pandemic began. I would appreciate conversation perhaps through a workshop or programming at the VSBA convention in the fall. My greatest fear is that the hatred and ignorance we are facing month after month is going to impact who is willing to serve on School Board. Public service isn't easy, but in this climate, I can understand there are many reasonable people who just won't be willing to serve. Witnessing portions of our board meetings certainly doesn't help recruit people who will want to serve our division in the way in which board members are expected to serve.\r\n\r\nThank you,\r\nWendy Lovell\r\nChair, Rockbridge County School Board","id":4,"type":"textarea"}}