During each regular and special open meeting of the Board, any person may comment to or ask questions of the School Board (public participation), subject to the reasonable constraints established and recorded in this policy. It shall be the Board’s practice not to directly engage in discussion or ask or answer questions during public comment.

To preserve sufficient time for the Board to conduct its business, any person appearing before the Board is expected to follow these guidelines:

Submit the request form "Public Participation Request" to the President or Secretary of the Board by using the button below. The request must be submitted at least twenty-four hours prior to the start of the meeting. Your name will be called upon during the Public Comments portion of the meeting. Each person has a 5 minute limit. If your topic is the same as a previous presenter, we respectfully ask that you concur with that speaker and submit your written comments to the Secretary.

Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President or designee. This includes following the directives of the Board President to maintain order and decorum for all.

Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, the time for any one person to address the Board during public participation shall be limited to five minutes. In unusual circumstances, and only with advance notice, the Board President may allow a person to speak for more than five minutes. No more than thirty minutes per meeting will be allocated to public participation.

Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board policy 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property. Specifically, individuals should display mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct.

Individuals shall not:

a. Strike, injure, threaten, harass or intimidate a staff member, Board member or any other person.

b. Use vulgar or obscene language.

c. Impede, delay, disrupt or otherwise interfere with a Board meeting.

d. Engage in any conduct that interferes with, disrupts or adversely affects the District or a Board meeting.

e. Violate other District policies or regulations, a directive from a District employee or Board member.

The Board President may terminate the privilege of any speaker who violates this rule.

Any discussion of individual school personnel or students may not be discussed in open session. Such concerns should be submitted in writing to the Board and, if necessary, discussed in a closed session. The Superintendent shall develop an organizational chart indicating the channels of authority and reporting relationship for school personnel. These channels should be followed, and no level be bypassed except in unusual situations. Petitions or written correspondence to the Board shall be presented to the Board in the next regular Board packet.