The Plano ISD Board of Trustees voted 5-2 on Aug. 19 to restrict public comments during board meetings to agenda-related topics only. Although most trustees voted in favor of the change, many parents and residents voiced strong opposition during the meeting.
The new approach shifts comments on broader, non-agenda topics to separate community input meetings, a format the district says is modeled after other school systems across Texas.
District’s Position
In a statement to Local Profile, a Plano ISD spokesperson emphasized that the adjustment is designed to keep board meetings focused on governance while creating other avenues for dialogue.
“Plano ISD deeply values parent and community engagement, and we have introduced a format used by other great districts around the state to expand opportunities for input,” the spokesperson said. “Community input meetings create more meaningful dialogue, while board meetings remain focused on the important work of governance.”
According to the district, these community input meetings will be publicly posted, open to all, and allow trustees to ask clarifying questions. Additional communication channels remain available through the district’s Let’s Talk online portal, as well as trustee emails and voicemails.
“This structure ensures that board meetings remain focused on decision-making while community input meetings and other channels provide more meaningful ways for parents and stakeholders to have their voices heard,” the district statement continued.
Community Concerns
Not all parents agree that moving non-agenda comments to separate meetings benefits transparency. Many argued that requiring families to attend additional sessions to voice concerns places an unnecessary strain on the community.
“By moving these comments potentially to a community input night, you put a burden on parents of attending an additional meeting in order to be heard,” said Plano ISD parent and resident Megan Vecchio. “The whole approach sends a message that the board thinks that they have all the answers and don't need to hear from the parents whose children that they serve. That’s not how public education is supposed to work.”
Vecchio also raised concerns about the district’s reliance on online tools like the Let’s Talk feature, arguing that automated systems and private digital exchanges cannot replace the transparency of live public comments heard directly by both the board and the community.
Parent Tisha Amos echoed those concerns, stressing the importance of public comment as a direct line to decision-makers.
“When a parent comes to this podium, it’s rarely because they have extra time like me. It’s because they’ve exhausted every other option and feel unheard,” Amos said. “Public comment provides the only direct channel for parents to advocate for their children when no one else is speaking up for them. Taking that opportunity away doesn’t just reduce transparency, it erases trust between the district and the families it serves.”
Amos added that urgent concerns — such as safety, bullying or special education needs — may not always align with formal agenda items but still need to be heard in real time.
Texas Open Meetings Act And Local Practice
Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, school boards and other governmental bodies are not required to allow comments on non-agenda items. Each board has discretion to set its own rules, as long as those rules are considered reasonable.
Plano ISD is shifting to a model that narrows meeting comments to posted agenda items while offering alternative options for broader dialogue.
New Opportunities For Input
The district outlined several ways families and community members can continue to provide feedback:
- Public comment opportunities at 22 meetings throughout the year, including regular board meetings, workshops, special called sessions and hearings.
- Five community input meetings each school year, open to any topic related to district business.
- Continuous access to the Let’s Talk online engagement portal.
- Direct communication through trustee emails and voicemails.
The first community input meeting was recommended for Sept. 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the district administration building boardroom. Additional sessions will follow on Nov. 3, 2025; Feb. 23, 2026; March 30, 2026; and April 27, 2026.
At these sessions, speakers will have three minutes to share their views, while up to three trustees may attend and ask clarifying questions.
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