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School Board Policy for Public Participation

The Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational Issues and the Importance of allowing members of the
public to express themselves on District matters.


To permit fair and orderly public expression, the Board shall provide a period for public participation at public meetings of the Board
and publish rules to govern such participation In Board meetings. The rules shall be administered and enforced by the presiding officer
of the meeting.


The presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules:


      A. Public participation shall be permitted as Indicated on the order of business.
      B. Anyone with concerns related to the operation of the schools or to matters within the authority of the Board may
      participate during the designated public participation portion(s) of a meeting.
      C. Participants must first be recognized by the presiding officer and will be requested to preface their comments by an
      announcement of their name, address, group affiliation, If and when appropriate.
      D. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes duration.
      E. During the portion of the meeting designated for public participation, no participant may speak more than once on the
      same topic unless all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
      F. Participants shall direct all comments to the Board and not to staff or other participants.
      G. The presiding officer may:
            1. Interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant's session when they make comments that are repetitive, obscene,
            and/or comments that constitute a true threat (I.e., statements meant to frighten or Intimidate one (1) or more
            specified persons Into believing that they will be seriously harmed by the speaker or someone acting at the
            speaker's behest);
            2. request any Individual to stop speaking and/or leave the meeting when that person behaves In a manner that Is
            disruptive of the orderly conduct and/or orderly progress of the meeting;
            3. request the assistance of law enforcement officers In the removal of a disorderly person when that person's
            conduct Interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting;
            4. call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum so Interferes with
            the conduct and/or orderly conduct of the meeting as to warrant such action;
            5. waive these rules with the approval of the Board when necessary for the protection of privacy or the
            administration of the Board's business.
      H. The portion of the meeting during which the participation of the public Is Invited shall be limited to twenty (20) minutes,
      but the time frame will be extended, If necessary, so that no one's right to address the Board will be denied.
      The Board may permit individuals to attend meetings, remotely through live broadcast; however, public participation will be limited
      to those who are In attendance at the meeting site only. The Board Is not responsible for any technology failures that prevent or
      disrupt any Individual from attending remotely.


Audio or video recordings are permitted subject to the following conditions:


      A. No obstructions are created between the Board and the audience.
      B. No Interviews are conducted In the meeting room while the Board Is In session.
      C. No commentary, adjustment of equipment, or positioning of operators Is made that would distract either the Board or
      members of the audience while the Board Is In session.


The person operating the recorder should contact the Superintendent prior to the Board meeting to review possible placement of the
equipment.


Revised 9/8/04
Revised 10/13/10
Revised 12/12/18