Respect Is Not a Nice-to-Have

Why the tone at board meetings matters more than people want to admit

I sent a letter to the editor last week because I do not want us to normalize something that should be non-negotiable: basic respect for district staff and for community members who show up in good faith.

Disagreement is part of governance. Tough questions are fair. Accountability matters. But there is a line between being firm and being demeaning. When the tone from the dais turns sarcastic, dismissive, or performative, it creates a chilling effect. Staff become more guarded and scripted, and community members decide it is not worth stepping up to the microphone. Over time, the district loses exactly what it needs to function well: candid information, steady leadership, and public trust.

This is not about asking anyone to be polite for politeness’s sake. It is about protecting the people doing the work and keeping the process usable for everyone. You can push for answers without turning staff into targets. You can disagree without treating public participation like an inconvenience.

If you have been feeling the same shift, here is the LTE in StuLaguna.