Appear Before the Board

Any individual or group may address the Board of Trustees concerning any item that is listed on a Board Agenda, or on any subject that is within its authority. Comments or written requests should be addressed to the Board as a whole, and not to individual members or District employees.

Hearing of Citizens at the Board Meeting

If no advance request has been made, citizens wishing to address the Board of Trustees in a Board meeting should first complete a yellow request card, which is available on the reception table in the Board Room. The completed card should be submitted to the Administrator-on-Duty, or the Board’s Administrative Assistant, prior to the start of the meeting.

Advance Written Request

Any individual or group desiring to place an item on the Board meeting agenda should file a written request with the Superintendent. The written request should include:
Name, address, and telephone number of person(s) submitting the request and name or organization/business represented (if applicable).

General description of the subject to be discussed and a brief statement of action to be requested of the Board.
Information regarding the presentation to the Board of Trustees at the Board meeting, including the name, address and telephone number of any person(s) wishing to speak.
Confirmation of the date set for the presentation will be communicated through the Superintendent’s Office.

Time Limits for Speakers

The time allotted to any individual speaker is three minutes. When numerous individuals wish to address the same issue, time will be limited to fifteen minutes for the subject area. In case of numerous requests to address the same item, the Board President may select representatives to speak on each side of the item.

Board Response

The Board cannot act on an item or issue that is not part of the agenda. The Board President may refer the matter to the Superintendent for study and/or recommendation; and, if appropriate, the matter will be considered at a future meeting.

Conduct and Remarks Out of Order

Interruptions or other interference with the orderly conduct of Board business will not be allowed. Remarks by any person addressing the Board which reflect adversely upon the racial, religious, economic, or political views of any person, or the character or motives of any person, are out of order. The Board President may take away a speaker’s privilege of address if, after being called to order, he/she persists in improper conduct or remarks. No boisterous conduct will be allowed at any time.

Presentation of Complaints or Appeals

The Board of Trustees desires that complaints be resolved in a timely manner without disruption of the education process. Members of the public are urged to utilize established procedures so that their concerns can be addressed fully and fairly. These procedures are not designed to restrict public criticism of employees.

The Board encourages citizens or parents to place their complaint(s) in writing to allow District staff to fully and fairly resolve the issue. Written statements should be submitted to the Superintendent’s Office.

Complaints Concerning Schools/Programs, or District Policies/Practices, Including Complaints Relating to Individual Students

It is the policy of the Board to hear appeal(s) and receive specific complaints which relate to individual students in Closed Session in order to protect confidentiality.

Complaints Against District Employees

To the extent the law permits members of the public to criticize or make charges against an identifiable employee during Open Session of the Board meeting, it is the practice of the Board to listen without comment.

Moreover, the Board will not take action on the complaint or charges unless they have been handled through the District’s complaint procedure and, if Board review is requested, heard in Closed Session. This practice protects the employee’s rights to adequate notice before a hearing of such complaints and charges, and also preserves the ability of the Board to legally consider the complaints in future evaluations of the employee. The Closed Session hearing will be solely on the issues raised by the individual making the complaint and the Board’s response.