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.