PUBLIC
PARTICIPATON IN BOARD MEETINGS
All meetings of the Board of Education are intended to allow Board members to address topics
on the prepared and disseminated agenda. Public participation in Board of Education meetings
may occur under four different circumstances.
First, the Director may ask a citizen with business before the Board to make a presentation as
part of the regular agenda.
Second, the Board may, when topics of general interest occur, schedule public hearings on
specific topics as part of its regular agenda.
Third, in accordance with other Board policies or state or federal law, the Board may schedule a
hearing in which members of the public may be witnesses as part of its predetermined agenda.
Fourth, the Director and the Board Chair may grant a request from an individual or a group to
address the Board to express a concern or complaint. Any such matter shall be scheduled by
the Director and Board Chair for presentation at a Board meeting only after the concern or
complaint has been processed in accordance with established complaint procedures. A concern
or complaint must first be addressed with the employee most directly involved. If the result is
unsatisfactory to those raising the concern or complaint, they shall seek additional review by a
supervisor of that employee or program and shall proceed through successive supervisors to the
Director of Schools. If they are not satisfied with the response of the Director, they may ask to
bring the matter to the Board. Any request to address the Board must be submitted to the
Director after completion of the complaint procedure. The Director and Board Chair shall then
make their determination about whether to grant the request and, if granted, shall schedule a
date. The request shall include the names of all persons who wish to speak and the nature of
their business. The Director and Board Chair may limit the number of persons given prior
approval to speak.
At the Board meeting, persons speaking shall address their remarks to the Chair and shall state
their name, address, and the subject of their presentation. Remarks will generally be limited to
three minutes but may be extended by the Chair or majority vote of the Board. Questions may
be addressed to individual Board members or staff members only with the approval of the
Chair. The Chair has the authority to terminate the remarks of any individual or group if
necessary to insure compliance with Board policies or to prevent abusive or inappropriate
remarks. If the Chair deems it in the public interest, the Chair may recognize individuals who
wish to speak on the topic but who had not requested permission to do so in advance. Any
decision of the Chair can be overruled by a majority vote of the members present.
