Visitor Orientation to Meetings

Welcome to this evening’s Board meeting.  The following procedures and rules will govern public participation at Board meetings.

Fifteen minutes will be set aside early in the meeting for citizens to address the Board under the agenda item listed as “Public Participation”.  Citizens will also be able to address the Board at the end of the Board meeting under the agenda item entitled “Public Comments On Agenda Items”.  Comments from the public will be limited to only those items discussed by the Board in the course of the meeting.  Anyone wishing to speak before the Board, either as an individual or as a member of a group, may do so in one of two ways.

1.     If a topic is to be presented that requires either a presentation or a discussion, it must appear on the preliminary agenda with both the topic and the presenter’s name stated.  This must be done by informing the Superintendent at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

2.     A resident may appear briefly before the Board without prior notice:  to request an item be put on a future agenda; to raise an issue that may require resolution by the Board and/or administration; to give the Board information; and to state for the record a particular position about an issue.

Any individual desiring to speak shall give his/her name, address, and the group, if any, that s/he represents.  The presentation should be as brief as possible.  Written remarks are encouraged.  When appropriate, issues raised will be referred to the lowest practical level for action or, if necessary, will be placed on the agenda of the next regular School Board meeting.

Speakers may offer such objective criticisms of school operations and programs as concern them.  However, in public session, the Board will not hear personal complaints of school personnel nor will they hear complaints against any person connected with the school system.  Other channels provide for the Board’s consideration and disposition of legitimate complaints involving individuals.

The Board vests in its Chairman, or other presiding officer, authority to terminate the remarks of any individual when they do not adhere to the rules established above as to content or time limitation.

Persons appearing before the Board may be reminded, as a point of information, that members of the Board are without authority to act independently in official matters.  Thus, questions may be directed to individual Board members, but answers must be deferred pending consideration by the full Board.

There may be an occasion, after non-public session a brief public session for the purpose of recording votes on issues that were discussed in the preceding non-public session.

The Board appreciates your attendance this evening and invites your continued interest in its work on behalf of the children and residents of the District.