DEAR DAWG: Things sometimes get a little rowdy at our board meetings, so our superintendent has come up with a great idea.  She has figured out that our board room seats 50 people.  She has hand-picked 50 members of our community and designated them The Ruly Crowd.  The purpose of The Ruly Crowd is to fill up the seats before anyone else gets there.  That way the local press will not be able to report that “the board was greeted by an unruly crowd.”  The Ruly Crowd is doing a great job. They smile.  During public comment they say things like “I just want to say what a great job y’all are doing.  Thanks for letting me exercise my constitutional rights tonight.”  One of them even genuflects as he approaches the mike.  Things have gone smoothly ever since we employed The Ruly Crowd. Just want to mention it as a Best Practice for other districts to think about.  LIKES THINGS TO RUN SMOOTHLY.

DEAR LIKES THINGS:  Yet another great management technique! Of course such an open scheme to prevent certain members of the public from participating in your meetings might be challenged in court. But all you will have to do them is make sure you have a Ruly Jury and a Ruly Judge.  No problem!

DAWG BONE: ACTUALLY, THIS IDEA COMES FROM THE LATE, GREAT RICHARD J. DALEY, MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

TOMORROW: JOCKS v. BRAS