Public Comments at School Board Meetings

Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Education and are allowed toaddress the Board and to comment as allowed under this policy.

Public comment is allowed only at a regular meeting or at a special meeting declared to be apublic hearing for that purpose. Public comment at regular meetings is allowed for twopurposes—to respond to an item on the action agenda or to provide comments regarding topics not on the current agenda (“Citizen Comment”). Speakers’ comments should be shorter than three minutes, but in no event shall a speaker have more than five minutes when providing comment. If an individual is providing comment on an action item and as a Citizen Comment, the time will be counted separately.

The board welcomes input from all members of the community and will have translation services available at the board meeting for the purpose of receiving public comment, as needed. If the person providing public comment uses translation services to communicate with the board, up to five additional minutes will be provided to the speaker to ensure the use of translation services does not impair the speaker’s ability to provide their comments. Time will be counted separately if the person is providing both agenda-related comments and Citizen’s Comments.

The Board President may interrupt and terminate any presentation not deemed to be inaccordance with the guidelines set out by this policy, for example if the person providingcomments uses profanity or other abusive language against board members, or if the speaker attempts to present comments regarding an issue in a pending lawsuit. The relevant guidelines are described below and outlined on the paper and electronic forms the public completes when signing up to speak. The Board President may also, after a warning, preclude an individual speaker from addressing the Board at that meeting and/or at the next regular meeting of the Board of Education for violation of the guidelines set out by this policy.

Public Comment Guidelines

School board policies, state law, and federal law establish separate and distinct proceduresand forums for the resolution of employee grievances, employee complaints, employeesuspensions and terminations, complaints against individual employees, pupil suspensionsand appeals, political campaigns, and litigation.

To avoid circumvention of these separate proceedings and to assure fairness to all partiesconcerned, no person will be allowed to speak regarding the following:

• An issue in a pending lawsuit, complaint, or investigation filed with an outside

agency, wherein the District, employee(s) or the Board is a party;

• A pending grievance;
• A pending employee complaint filed with the District or an outside agency;
• A complaint against individual employee(s);
• An employee disciplinary action including suspension or termination;
• A pending pupil disciplinary action including suspension or appeal that may

reach the Board.The individual dignity of Board members, District employees, students, and membersof thepublic must be respected by all speakers. Board members, employees, students, ormembers of the public will not be subjected to verbal abuse.

Comments Concerning Items on the Action Agenda

All public comment regarding matters on the action agenda shall be received together as aseparate item on the agenda prior to the consideration of the action agenda. Requests tocomment must be made by submitting a completed form for that purpose. Paper forms areavailable from the Board Clerk before the beginning of each meeting and will be acceptedup to 6:25 pm on the day of the meeting. Electronic forms will be available online and shallbe submitted after the relevant agenda has posted and no later than noon on the day of themeeting. Each individual requesting to speak must personally complete the form listing theirname and contact information and verify they have read the instructions regardingcomments. The individual will also indicate on the form if they are speaking on their ownbehalf or on behalf of a group and whether or not they support or oppose the item (asapplicable). Speakers are encouraged to provide the Board with a written outline of theircomments to be made available to them before or at the meeting.

The total time limit will apply to each speaker regardless of the number of agenda items towhich they wish to speak

The Board and staff will not dialogue with speakers. When determined to be appropriateby the Superintendent, staff will strive to provide answers or resolve any issues/concernsin a timely manner.

“Citizen’s Comments”—Comments Concerning Items Not on an Agenda

The agenda for the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board will include an item designated “Citizens’ Comments.” This portion of the agenda will be reserved for commentsconcerning issues not otherwise appearing on an agenda to provide citizens an opportunityto address the Board of Education, and it is not intended to provide a forum for commercial,political, personal or similar topics.

An individual wishing to comment during this portion of a meeting must personally sign andsubmit a completed request form with all supporting documents to the Clerk of the Boardseven calendar days before the meeting at which the individual wishes to speak. The formsare available online or from the Clerk of the Board of Education. Each individual requestingto speak must complete the form and verify they have read instructions.

Generic topics will not be accepted. The topic listed on the request form must be brief butspecific enough to satisfy posting requirements under state law. The topic should be wordedso an ordinary individual would understand what the topic is about. The topic languagesubmitted by the citizen will be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the attorney forthe School District. Individuals will also indicate on the form if they are speaking on theirown behalf or on behalf of a group. Speakers will be notified regarding approval ordisapproval of their request. The Superintendent or designee will address speakers'specific issues or concerns within 60 days.

The total time limit of Citizens’ Comments will apply to each speaker during a meetingregardless of the number of topics on which the individual requests to speak. Speakers arewelcomed and encouraged to provide the Board with a written outline of their comments to be made available to them before or at the meeting.^[8]