Public Participation in Board Meetings 1520
HAGERMAN JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 233
Public Participation in Board Meeting
The Board of Trustees encourages all citizens of the District to express their ideas and concerns. The comments of the community will be given careful consideration. In the evaluation of such comments, first priority will be District students and their educational program.
NOTICE
DUE TO THEIR SENSTIVE NATURE, COMMENTS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT PERSONNEL OR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS WILL ONLY BE HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ADDITIONALLY, OTHER TOPICS YOU WISH TO ADDRESS MAY ONLY BE APPROPRIATE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. IN SUCH INSTANCES, THE BOARD WILL DETERMINE IF YOUR COMMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR OPEN OR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WILL NOTIFY YOU ACCORDINGLY. Idaho Code § 74-206.
“A PERSON WHO DISRUPTS THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OR WHOSE PRESENCE IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE MORALS, HEALTH, SAFETY, ACADEMIC LEARNING OR DISCIPLINE OF THE PUPILS OR WHO LOITERS IN SCHOOLHOUSES OR ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.” Idaho Code § 33-512 (11).
Any complaint about the District, including instruction, discipline, District personnel policy, procedure or curriculum, should be referred through proper administrative channels before it is presented to the board for consideration and action. All complaints should be resolved through proper channels in the following order:
1. Teacher or Staff
2. Principal or Supervisor
3. Director or Administrator
4. Superintendent
5. Board of Trustees
Please also see District Policy No. 4110regarding public complaints and 4105 regarding public participation in board meetings.
At each Regular and Special meeting of the Board the agenda will provide time for public comment before the Board. Persons wishing to address the Board will be required to submit a “REQUEST TO APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD” form. Forms are available from the Board Clerk and will be available at each meeting.
Total time allotted for public comment will not exceed one (1) hour. Public participation will be limited to the time allotted on the agenda. Each speaker will be limited to five (5) minutes. All speakers will be allowed to speak at least once before a speaker is allowed to address the board a second time. Public comment will be taken from the public on matters scheduled on the agenda. Should a large number of the public wish to speak on the same issue or topic, members of the public are encouraged to select a
representative(s) to summarize their position. Additionally, the Board Clerk will accept written comments for distribution to the Board.
Written materials for Board Members must be submitted to the Board Clerk. The written material must include the name, address and telephone number of the person submitting it. A copy of the materials that meet these requirements will be forwarded to Board Members if received by noon the Thursday preceding the Board Meeting. Materials should not be sent directly to Board Members. Materials may be presented or mailed to the Board Clerk at 324 North 2nd Avenue, Hagerman, ID 83332.
If a topic is being considered by a committee established for that purpose, the Chairman may refer the public comment to that committee.
Because of the diversity of issues, members of the Board will not respond to public comment. Instead, issues may be recorded and referred to the proper staff person for follow-up. The Chairman may interrupt or terminate an individual’s statement when it is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, repetitive, or irrelevant. The Board of Trustees as a whole shall have the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings.
If a special meeting has been held to obtain public comment on a specific issue, the Chairman of the Board may not recognize speakers wishing to comment on the same topic at a regular meeting of the Board.
Cross Reference: 4105 Public Participation in Board Meetings
4110 Public Complaints
4120 Uniform Grievance Procedure
4320 Disruption of School Operations
Legal Reference: I.C. § 33-512 (11)
I.C. § 74-206
Policy History
Adopted on: 10/8/2012
Reviewed on:
Revised on: