Meetings

Meeting Conduct, Order of Business, and Quorum

For information on meeting conduct, order of Business, and Quorum see the FULL Board Policy 1400.

Excerpts from Board Policy 1400:

Meeting Conduct and Order of Business

The Board will conduct all Board meetings in a civil, orderly, and business-like manner. The Board uses Roberts Rules of Order (Revised) as a guide, except when Board bylaws or policies supersede such rules. During Board meetings, Board members will refrain from communicating electronically (e.g., by e-mail, text, social media) with their fellow Board members.

The Board will use the agenda to establish its regular order of business. However, either the superintendent or a Board member may request additions or changes to the prepared agenda, and the Board may adopt a revised agenda or order of business by a majority vote of the Board members present. At a special meeting, the Board may take final action only on that business contained in the notice of the special meeting.

Public Attendance and Comment

Any member of the public may attend Board meetings, including individuals who do not live within district boundaries. The Board will not require people to sign in, complete questionnaires, or establish other conditions for attendance.

The Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings. In order to permit fair and orderly expression of public comment, the Board will provide a period during the meeting when visitors may address the Board on any topic within the scope of the Board's responsibility. The Board may structure the public comment period, including determining the total time allotted for public comment and equally apportioning the minutes for each speaker. The Board is not obligated to provide additional public comment time to accommodate everyone in attendance who wishes to speak.

Any structure the Board imposes will be content neutral.

The Board may require those who wish to speak (but not all attendees) to sign in so that the Board has a tally of individuals who wish to speak and can call them forward. When called forward, individuals will identify themselves and proceed to make comments within the time limits established by the Board.

The Board is not obligated to respond to questions or challenges made during the public comment period and the Board's silence will not signal agreement or endorsement of the speaker's remarks. The Board may control the time, place, and manner of public comment. The chair/president may terminate an individual's statement when the allotted time has passed and may interrupt a speaker to require the same standard of civility that the Board imposes on itself. Examples of uncivil comments include comments that:

• Are libelous or slanderous;
• Are an unwarranted invasion of privacy;
• Are obscene or indecent pursuant to the Federal Communications Act or any rule or regulation of the Federal Communications Commission;
• Violate school district policy or procedure related to harassment, intimidation, bullying, or discrimination;
• Incite an unlawful act on school premises or violate a lawful school regulation; or
• Create a material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the Board meeting

The Board as a whole has the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings and can maintain order by removing those who are disruptive. However, the Board recognizes the distinction between uncivil discourse, which it will not tolerate, and comments about the Board, district, and / or staff that are negative yet still civil in nature, and will exercise its authority to maintain order in a content neutral manner.

In addition to the public comment period during the meeting, the Board will identify the agenda items that require or would benefit from opportunity for public comment and provide those opportunities as part of the meeting agenda before taking final action. Individuals or groups who wish to present to the Board on an agenda item are encouraged to request and schedule such presentations in advance. Opportunity for public comment both oral and written is required before the Board adopts or amends a policy that is not expressly or by implication authorized under state or federal law, but which will promote the education of K-12 students, or will promote the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the district. Additionally, the Board will provide an opportunity for a representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the Board to present about his or her firm.

Audience Participation

For information on Audience Participation see FULL Board Policy 1430.

Excerpts from Board Policy 1430:

The Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings.  In order to permit fair and orderly expression of such comment, the Board will provide a place on the agenda during which visitors may make brief comments.  Citizens desiring to make a formal presentation should schedule at least seven (7) days prior to the scheduled Board meeting to allow them to be placed on an agenda.

The Board may also allow individuals to express an opinion prior to Board action on agenda items the Board determines require or will benefit from public comment.  Written and oral comment will be accepted by the Board before the adoption or amendment of policies not expressly or by implication authorized by state or federal law, but which will promote the education of kindergarten through twelfth grade students in public schools or will promote the effective, efficient or safe management and operation of the district.  Individuals wishing to be heard by the Board shall first be recognized by the chairperson.  Individuals, after identifying themselves, will proceed to make comments as briefly as the subject permits.  Any representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the Board shall also be entitled to express an opinion.  The chairperson may interrupt or terminate an individual's statement when it is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, irrelevant or not specific to the issue under consideration.  The Board as a whole shall have the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings.

Individuals with disabilities who may need a modification to participate in a meeting should contact the superintendent's office no later than three days before a regular meeting and as soon as possible in advance of a special meeting so that arrangements for the modification can be made.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the chairperson will allow any individual to speak to any issue not included on the agenda.