Interested citizens may sign-up outside the boardroom to address the board during the public comment time. Each individual has a time limit of three minutes. The maximum time for public comment is 30 minutes. According to policy, personnel issues, pending contractual issues and individual student concerns will not be appropriate subjects for this time. Part of the reasoning in this policy is to protect the privacy and the due process rights of students and employees.
Citizens may also request to appear before the board at any regular session. Requests must be made in writing by noon of the Monday, prior to a scheduled board meeting. Requests must include the spokesperson's name, the name of the group, the address, whether or not the person or group is a district resident, and the purpose of the presentation. The superintendent will respond to the request giving the anticipated time, date, and place of the meeting. An approved request will carry a time limitation of five minutes unless, by majority vote, it is waived by the trustees present.
Such requests may be conducted as a private hearing when items for discussion or presentation are consistent with the limitations imposed by law relative to closed sessions. In these instances, students or minors will not be allowed in the hearing, except when requested by the board to give testimony relative to the matter being discussed. Only individuals who are participating in the hearing will be allowed in the boardroom. Spectators will not be allowed in the hearing under any circumstances.
