Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The restricted time limit of 3-5 minutes imposed upon citizens who desired to speak during a supposed hearing period at the Gloucester County School Board meeting on April 10 did not allow me time to complete the focused subject of my statement, namely, the compliance or non-compliance of the school board’s actions in relation to Sections 22.1-79 and 22.1-92 of the Code of Virginia, related to the duties and powers of school boards. The state code requires the school board to "obtain public comment through a public hearing not less than 10 days after reasonable notice to the public in a newspaper of general circulation in the school division … on a proposed consolidation, redistricting or pupil assignment plan."

For the school budget, the code is even more specific. It states: "Before any school board gives final approval to its budget for submission to the governing body, the school board shall hold at least one public hearing...