After a rowdy, four-hour meeting last month, the Jordan School District Board is considering tightening its policy on public comments.

A proposal for tonight's Board of Education meeting would make a number of changes to the district's rules regarding public participation at board meetings, including limiting the time spent on comments. At the last board meeting, hundreds of people showed up to protest a proposal to lay off 500 workers, including 250 teachers. The board's regular agenda was suspended to make time for four hours of comment.

"It cannot continue to do that every meeting, or the district will come to a halt," Jordan spokeswoman Melinda Colton wrote in an e-mail, noting that people also can chime in via letters, e-mails and phone calls. "The board feels it needs to restore decorum to its board meetings. Their meetings are meetings held in public, not public hearings."

Robin Frodge, president of the Jordan Education Association, said she hopes the board keeps in mind the importance of public input.

"One of the primary purposes for public meetings is to conduct business in front of the public and to also take public response on board actions," Frodge said.

Of greater concern than the rule tweaks, she said, is the board's plan to hold tonight's meeting in its small board room, where fewer people can attend, instead of the auditorium where last month's meeting took place.

"Conducting school board meetings in a larger space would be more accommodating to interested patrons who want to participate in the process," she said.

The revised rules would:

» Limit public comments to 45 minutes per meeting, unless the comments are given during advertised public hearings.

» Cut the speaking time from 3 minutes to 2 minutes per person;

» Prohibit statements regarding the character, professional competence or the physical or mental health of employees.

» State that people who disrupt board meetings through "applause, cheering, jeering or personal outbursts" will be removed by "appropriate legal means."

» Limit attendance to the seating capacity of the room in which the meeting is held. The board will make efforts to accommodate overflow seating.

What's next

Meeting » The Jordan School District Board of Education's regular meeting begins at 7 p.m. today in the board room, 7905 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan.