Public Comments at Board Meetings

Public Comment at Regular & Special Board Meetings

Open Forum at Board meetings will be conducted in accordance with Board Policies BED (LEGAL) and  BED (LOCAL) and the Board’s Operating Procedures on public comment. 

• Public comments on General Topics and Current Agenda Topics will be accepted at each regular Board meeting. 
• At meetings other than regular Board meetings, public comments are limited to items on the agenda for that meeting. 

Individuals wishing to address the Board may do so in the Open Forum portion of the meeting.  You have opportunity to sign up to speak two hours before the beginning of the Open portion of the meeting.  Signup closes five (5) minutes before the scheduled start of the open session.

The following guidelines apply to public comments:

CURRENT AGENDA TOPICS 

1. Comments during this Open Forum are limited to current agenda items only.

2. Per Board Policy BED (LEGAL), the Board may adopt reasonable rules regarding the public's right to address the Board, including rules that limit the total amount of time that a member of the public may address the board on a given item. Individuals may be given between 1 to 3 minutes for their comments depending on the number of individuals signed up for the Open Forum portion of the meeting. 

3. The Board shall not tolerate disruption of the meeting by members of the public. Citizens attending Board meetings shall conduct themselves in an orderly manner and work within established meeting procedures.

GENERAL TOPICS

1. At regular meetings, the Board shall allot up to 30 minutes to hear from persons who desire to make comments to the Board concerning general topics.

2. Each individual’s time to address the Board will be limited to three minutes. If more than 10 people sign up to speak, time to address the Board will be adjusted accordingly to stay within the 30 minute time allotment.

3. Any group of five or more persons will appoint one person to present the group’s views to the Board.

4. Specific factual information or recitation of existing policy may be furnished in response to inquiries, but the Board shall not deliberate or take action regarding any subject that is not on the agenda posted with notice of the meeting.

5. The Board shall not tolerate disruption of the meeting by members of the public. Citizens attending Board meetings shall conduct themselves in an orderly manner and work within established meeting procedures. At no time will the Board allow personal attacks on the character of a student, employee, or Board member.

6. The Board will only consider complaints that remain unresolved after being addressed through proper administrative channels. For further information concerning these requirements, contact Mark Thomas, Communications Officer.