While sitting in on a recent “Coffee with the Mayor” session, Trustee Rick Badillo of the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s Board of Education was asked by Mayor Steve Tate to answer a question from an attendee regarding education.
Badillo obliged.
He enjoyed the back-and-forth exchange, as well as the informal, personable setting, so much so that now Badillo will be hosting his very own “Coffee with a School Board Trustee.”
The first sit-down, which includes free coffee and pastries for guests, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sat., Feb. 22 inside the BookSmart bookstore on Second Street in downtown Morgan Hill.
“I’m just one voice. The power of the board lies within the board, but I want them to know I’m here to listen,” explained the first-year school board member, who plans on hosting the event every two weeks. “I’m not making any promises to anybody. I just want to hear people’s concerns.”
Badillo wants attendees to come equipped with questions regarding “anything to do with education.” He hopes the meetings will generate a productive, back-and-forth dialogue, something that he feels is lacking during regular school board meetings.
“At board meetings, it’s a public meeting with no interaction. We’re not allowed to talk to public,” Badillo said. “Here, at this kind of venue, we can talk and have a dialogue.”
At school board meetings, a member of the public is allowed to address the board for three minutes on any topic. However, per meeting protocol, the Board only listens and does not respond immediately. A trustee can then request the issue be put on the agenda for board discussion.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of people out there who have concerns but are not sure how to voice their concerns,” Badillo said. “This gives them that opportunity and allows for me to talk to them about it directly.”
Details: The first meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at BookSmart, 80 E. Second St. in Morgan Hill.
