Text of Letter to Board President:
6 January 2016
DELIVERED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Ms. Heather Bennett, President
℅ Salt Lake City Board of Education
440 East 100 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Re: Mayor Biskupski
Dear Ms. Bennett,
I am writing to request that you formally invite newly elected Mayor Biskupski to sit in council with the Board of Education, whenever we convene as an elected body.[1] As you recall, the Mayor expressed her desire to fully participate in our discussions.[2] I for one, am thrilled that the she is willing to partner with the Board Education on this level. I predict that Salt Lake City will become a better place as elected officials seize these types of opportunities for collaboration of ideas and resources.
At last night’s Board meeting, I noted that the Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff attended in her stead, yet was not offered a seat at the Board dais and instead sat in the audience. I am not sure if that was intentional or an oversight on our part.
Nevertheless, I recommend that we respond to the Mayor’s aspiration for cooperation between our two governments, by being the gracious host and provide a place (i.e. seat, nameplate etc.) at the Board table for the Mayor or her designee.[3] I thank you in advance for attending to this matter.
Shalom,
J. Michael Clára
Board Member, District 2
cc: Mayor Biskupski
Mr. David Litvack, Deputy Chief of Staff
Mr. Matthew Rojas, Director of Communications
[1] Board Policy B-2: Local Governmental Involvement: The mayor of Salt Lake City, or mayor’s designee, may attend and participate in board discussions at board meetings.
[2] Salt Lake City Board of Education Meeting 12/21/15
[3] Utah Code §53A-3-409. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS – A school district board shall allow an interested mayor… and interested to attend and participate in the board discussions at a school district board meeting…