DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (KFGO/KVRR) – Prior to October 26, 2026, the public comment portion of Detroit Lakes School Board meetings had no limit on the number of people that could speak, gave them each five minutes to speak, and took place at the beginning of said meetings, before policy decisions were enacted.
That’s all changed – and community members are not happy about the adjustment.
“It’s just telling us that they don’t really care what we have to say,” said Deb Wimmer, who has two grandchildren currently in the Detroit Lakes school system.
Even with the new rules in place – one minute per speaker, with a maximum of 15 people speaking, and public comment moved to the end of the meeting agenda – folks nevertheless packed the Detroit Lakes council chambers on the evening of the 26th, aiming to show their disapproval through their mere presence.
“I’ve been really pleased by the amount of support we have,” said Wimmer. “We want to make sure all people are heard.”
Much of the initial disapproval of the board’s actions stemmed from their attempted adoption of Policy #505, the so-called “rainbow flag ban” – and while that policy was not on this evening’s agenda, motivated citizens addressed it separately all the same.
“Seeing teachers at this school board meeting wearing rainbow lanyards has meant a lot to me,” said Nicole Hadding, part of the lawsuit targeting the ban.
“It makes me wonder how many teachers would have supported me when I was growing up if I’d only chosen to talk to them, and I knew they were there. And that’s why these symbols matter to me,” she added.
While Policy #505 was indeed not on this meeting’s agenda, the concerned citizens said in their pre-meeting media availability that they’re worried overzealous board members could take advantage of the public comment being moved and slip controversial items into meeting agendas without prior notice.
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