School Board Meeting Question/Comment Guidelines
To ensure the timeliest resolution to your concern and/or question, first contact the teacher, counselor or principal so that he or she can respond without any undue delay. School Board meetings are business meetings which are held in public. On your agenda, you will see “Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items.” In order to permit fair and orderly expression of comment, the Board has provided this time to hear appropriate comments from anyone attending the meeting. However, the School Board does not respond to questions during the course of the business meeting. The Board values and welcomes civil, respectful statements and clear, concise communications that inform its deliberations. The Board uses the public comment period as an opportunity to listen to citizen concerns, but not to debate issues or enter into a question-and-answer session. No person addressing the Board should initiate charges or complaints about individual Board members or employees or students of the District. Such charges or complaints should be presented directly to the Superintendent. Speakers are encouraged to provide the Board with a written copy of their comments and other appropriate supporting documentation.
How may I address the Board during a meeting?
Please adhere to the following etiquette when speaking to the Board in Public Session:
- Provide your name, contact information and topic title on the sign in sheet prior to the start of the business meeting. Speakers may not address confidential student or personnel matters, but may submit such concerns to the Board in writing.
- Wait to be called upon by the Board President.
- When called, stand and face/speak to the Board members. Do not turn and speak to the audience.
- State your name and keep your comments as concise as possible (generally three minutes).
- Speakers are expected to treat others with respect, confining their remarks to School District issues.
- Do not use the public speaking portions of Board meetings to make slanderous, abusive and personal statements against any individual. The president of the Board may rule any speaker out of order who makes such statements.