This past week, without prior notice to the public, District officials enacted a new procedure limiting public access to the School Board’s monthly committee meeting. These meetings are required to be open to the public per Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act. On Wednesday September 11, 2024, two District police officers were stationed outside the entrance to the District Administration Building and required members of the public to provide photo ID prior to allowing them to access the building. Officers reported this was to give priority to people who live within the District. Prior to this incident, the District has never required meeting attendees to provide proof of residency to attend a public meeting of the School Board.
We believe this is a violation of Souderton Area School District Policy, Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act and potentially violates the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Pennsylvania’s open meeting law, also known as the Sunshine Act, is intended to ensure citizens’ access to governing bodies while taking official action. Limiting access to District residents prevents other stakeholders from accessing the meeting who may also have a vested interest in the outcome of the meeting. Non-custodial parents who live outside the District, teachers or staff who live outside the District, potential or current vendors of the District, and members of advocacy organizations like the NAACP or even members of the press.
We call on the District to adhere to the law, provide members of the public access to all public meetings, and move the meeting to a larger venue if necessary.
Please write to the Board to tell them to follow the law and allow all members of the public access to their meetings
