Several Cobb County lawmakers have introduced a bill in the Georgia General Assembly that would require public school districts to air or record public comments at school board meetings that are broadcast to their communities.
Six legislators, including Democratic State Rep. Solomon Adesanya of East Cobb, introduced the bill on Friday. HB 989 (you can read it here) would add to an existing state law that requires school boards to provide public comment periods.
Last July the Cobb Board of Education voted on a 4-3 partisan basis to bar the airing of public comments, with the Republican majority and Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale saying it was for legal reasons and to ensure more people get to comment.
Critics said it’s the latest attempt by the Cobb school district and the GOP members to silence their dissenting voices during public comment periods, and follows several years of highly charged partisan rhetoric over a number of controversial issues and events in the district.
Since then, the district no longer shows or records what citizens say before the board and superintendent at public meetings. Viewers see a black screen saying the board is hearing public comment, but there is no audio or video.
The Cobb County Courier local news site has been streaming the public comments on-site, but must do so from a seat in the audience.
State law requires school boards to set aside time for public comment but they’re not required to air their meetings.
The proposed bill includes language that states that “any public comment period provided for in this subsection shall be recorded or broadcast by the local board of education in the same manner and to the same extent as the remainder of the public portions of the meeting are recorded or broadcast.”
East Cobb News has left a message with Randy Scamihorn, the Republican Cobb school board chairman, seeking comment.
The other co-sponsors of HB 989 include Democrats David Wilkerson, the Cobb legislative delegation chairman, Mekyah McQueen, Mary Frances Williams and Lisa Campbell.
The lone Republican co-sponsor is Rep. Jordan Ridley of Woodstock, whose district includes the Bells Ferry Elementary School area in Northeast Cobb.
The bill has had a first reading and has been assigned to the Georgia House Education Committee, but a hearing has not been scheduled.
Related:
- Mt. Bethel Christian Academy STAR student and teacher named
- Cobb schools financial watchdog launches website
- Cobb school district 2026-27 transfer window to open
- Addison ES principal charged with DUI
- East Side ES students take part in Cobb court mock trial
- Mt. Bethel ES teacher recognized for mathematics excellence
- Republicans to continue leadership of Cobb school board
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
