photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The Lawrence school district offices building, located at 110 McDonald Dr., is pictured in May 2025.

Lawrence school board members again omitted a public comment period from their business meeting, marking the second meeting in a row without one.

As the Journal-World reported, the board’s final meeting of the year on Dec. 8 did not include a public comment period, which in the past has typically occurred near the end of the meeting after board members concluded their discussions. Board president GR Gordon-Ross had told the Journal-World “Public Comment wasn’t on the agenda because Board Leadership chose not to include it for this meeting.” He did not give a reason for that decision.

When public comment was not included on the agenda for Monday’s meeting, the Journal-World asked Gordon-Ross via email what prompted public comment to be removed from the agenda and whether this was a temporary or permanent decision. Gordon-Ross said “Agenda items for any given meeting are determined by Board Leadership,” and anyone who wishes to communicate with the school board is welcome and invited to do so at any time via email at schoolboard@usd497.org.

While nothing in state law requires that government bodies take public comment, it is a practice and tradition that public officials generally promote and value during regular business meetings.

This past fall, several community officials participated in a forum about restoring civil discourse in public conversations, where they discussed escalating hostility and disruptive behavior at public meetings. Panelists said it was important to model respectful dialogue, engaging across disagreements, and recognizing how rhetoric — especially when amplified by social media– can cause real harm.

Gordon-Ross did not explain why public comment was excluded, but in recent months many frequent commenters — who have used foul or obscene language, often directed at board members — have primarily spoken virtually during this time. In February 2025, board member Kelly Jones had raised concerns about the atmosphere surrounding public comment. Following a 30-minute standoff with a commenter who refused to follow board rules, Jones floated the idea of temporarily suspending public comment, as the Journal-World reported.