MAINE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT #34
Belfast Belmont Morrill Northport Searsmont Swanville
SCHOOL BOARD POLICY MANUAL
Section B: SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS
Code |
Description |
Adopted/Revised |
BAA |
Evaluation of Board Operational Procedures |
March 26, 1996 |
BBA |
Need This Policy to Comply w/State Law-- |
|
BBAA |
Board Member Authority |
March 26, 1996 |
BBBD |
Board Member Attendance |
June 26, 2001 |
BCA |
School Board Member Code of Ethics |
March 26, 1996 |
BCB |
Board Member Conflict of Interest |
February 29, 2000 |
BDB |
Board Officers |
March 23, 1999 |
BDD |
Board/Superintendent Relationship |
March 26, 19 |
BDE |
Board Committees |
April 12, 2005 |
BDE-R |
Standing Committee Operating Procedures |
April 12, 2005 |
BEA |
Regular Board Meetings |
September 26, 2000 |
BEB |
Special Board Meetings |
March 23, 1999 |
BEC |
Executive Sessions |
February 29, 2000 |
BEC-E |
Executive Session Law (MSMA Handbook) |
04-2006 Edition |
BEDA |
Notification of Board Meetings |
March 26, 1996 |
BEDB |
Agenda |
March 23, 1999 |
BEDC |
Quorum |
March 26, 1996 |
BEDD |
Rules of Order |
March 26, 1996 |
BEDF |
Voting and Abstentions |
March 26,1996 |
BEDG |
Minutes |
March 26, 1996 |
BEDH |
Public Participation at Board Meetings |
March 26, 1996 |
BEDI |
Board Relations with Media/Public |
October 24, 2006 |
BEDK |
Reporting Board Meeting Business |
March 26, 1996 |
BGA |
Policy Codification |
March 26, 1996 |
BGB |
Policy Adoption |
March 26, 1996 |
BGF |
Suspension of Policies |
March 26, 1996 |
BIA |
Board Member Orientation and Development |
March 26, 1996 |
BID |
Board Member Compensation and Expenses |
March 26, 1996 |
Revised: October 26, 2006
section BAA EVALUATION OF SCHOOL BOARD OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
Annually the Board will plan for and carry through an appraisal of its functioning as a board. This appraisal may be based on a broad realm of relationships and activities or may be focused on a particular activity or area.
The appraisal plan will be developed by the Board chairman and an ad hoc Board committee appointed by the chairman, working with the superintendent. Such instruments may be used as the committee considers desirable. Upon Board approval, an outside consultant may develop and lead the appraisal session or sessions.
In accordance with a system of management by objectives, the Board will periodically establish realistic objectives related to Board procedures and relationships and will, at the end of a specified length of time, measure its performance against the stated objectives.
The following areas of Board operation and relationships are representative of those in which objectives may be set and progress appraised:
Board meetings
Policy development
Fiscal management
Board role in educational program development
Board member orientation
Board member development
Board member performance
Board-superintendent relationships
Board-staff relationships
Board-community relationships
Legislative and governmental relationships
The Superintendent and others who regularly work with the Board will be asked to participate in establishing
objectives and reviewing progress.
Adopted: March 26, 1996
section BBAA BOARD MEMBER AUTHORITY
Directors shall have authority only when acting as a body at a legally called and noticed meeting, and shall have no authority except while participating in legally called and noticed meetings of the Board of Directors, or when discharging a specific assignment made by majority vote of the Board at a legally called and noticed meeting of the Board.
Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA §1001 et seq.
section BBBD BOARD MEMBER ATTENDANCE
Members of the Board should report anticipated absences from scheduled meetings of the Board to the Chairperson or Superintendent.
When a director is absent without excuse from three (3) consecutive regular board meetings, the Board may declare that a vacancy exists and notify the municipal officers in the municipality in which the director resides.
Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA § 1254
section BCA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CODE OF ETHICS
Members of the Board of Directors should promote the best interest of MSAD #34 as a whole and, to that end, adhere to the following educational and ethical standards:
Bring about desired changes through legal and ethical procedures, upholding and enforcing all laws, State Board of Education rules, and court orders pertaining to schools;
Make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of all children in the District, regardless of ability, race, creed, ethnicity, sex or social standing:
Recognize that decisions must be made by the Board as a whole and make no personal promise or take private action that may compromise the Board;
Focus Board action on policymaking, goal setting, planning and evaluation, and insist on regular and impartial evaluation of all staff;
Support and protect school personnel in the proper performance of their duty;
Vote to appoint the best-qualified personnel available after consideration of recommendations of the Superintendent;
Hold confidential all matters pertaining to school that, if disclosed, may needlessly injure individuals or the schools, and respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law;
Attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings insofar as possible and become informed concerning the issues to be considered at those meetings;
Delegate authority for the administration of the school to the Superintendent;
Endeavor to make policy decisions only after full discussion at publicly held Board meetings, render all decisions based on the available facts, and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special groups;
Encourage the free expression of opinion by all Board members and seek systematic communications between the Board and students, staff, and all elements of the community;
Communicate to Board members and the Superintendent at appropriate times expressions of public reaction to Board policies and school programs;
Become informed about current educational issues by individual study and through participation in programs providing needed information, such as those sponsored by state and national school boards associations;
Refrain from using one’s Board position for personal or partisan gain;
Make certain the Board remains responsive to the community; and
Remember always that the first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all the students attending the public schools in MSAD #34.
Adopted: March 26, 1996
section BCB BOARD MEMBER CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Public office is a trust created by the confidence which the public places in the integrity of its public officers. To preserve this confidence, it is the desire of the Board to operate under the highest ethical standards.
A Board member shall not:
disclose or use confidential information acquired in the course of official duties to further substantially personal financial interests;
accept a gift of substantial value or substantial economic benefit tantamount to a gift of substantial value which would tend to improperly influence a reasonable person in such position or which the Board member knows or should know is primarily for the purpose of rewarding the Board member for official action taken;
The phrase "economic benefit tantamount to a gift of substantial value" includes a loan at a rate of interest substantially lower than the prevailing commercial rate and compensation received for private services rendered at a rate substantially exceeding the fair market value.
engage in a substantial financial transaction for private business purposes with a person whom the Board member supervises in the course of official duties;
have any direct or indirect pecuniary interest (as defined by law) in a contract with the School District nor shall he/she furnish directly any labor, equipment, or supplies to the District. In the event that a Board member is employed by a corporation or business, or has a secondary interest in a corporation or business which furnishes goods or services to the schools, the Board member shall declare his/her secondary interest and refrain from debating or voting upon the question of contracting with the company. It is not the intent of this policy to prevent the School District from contracting with the corporations or businesses because a Board member is an employee of the firm. The policy is designed to prevent the placing of Board members in a position where their
interest in public schools and their interest in their places of employment (or other indirect interest) might conflict, and to avoid appearances of conflict of interest even though such conflict may not exist.
perform an official act which directly and substantially confers an economic benefit on a business or other undertaking in which the Board member has a substantial financial interest, or in which the Board member is engaged as a counsel, consultant, representative, or agent.
Gifts to Board Members:
Board members will not solicit, accept, or receive any gift which has a value in excess of $50, except for gifts unrelated to Board functions.
A Board member who receives or whose immediately family receives a gift in any one occurrence which has a value in excess of Fifteen Dollars ($15) will file a written report of the gift with the Secretary of the Board. The report will show the nature, amount, recipient, and donor of the gift.
If a gift is made to a Board member or an immediate family member which cannot be precisely attributed to that recipient, the report will list the prorata value of the gift attributable to the recipient if that value exceeds Fifteen Dollars. The fact of apportionment will be disclosed. A gift may not be apportioned between multiple donors to reduce its "value" unless it qualifies as a separate occurrence.
This report will be filed with the Secretary of the Board by the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which a gift is provided.
All reports filed will be maintained by the Secretary and be available for public inspection as provided by State law.
As used in this policy, the word "gift" and the phrases " immediate family member" and "public disclosure" have the meaning provided by State law.
The Secretary will also maintain any report filed by the Board members of the District who desire to report a gift made to them or their immediate family members that did not exceed Fifteen Dollars in value. Such report is strictly optional with each Board member.
It is permissible for a Board member to receive:
an occasional non-pecuniary gift which is insignificant in value;
a non-pecuniary award publicly presented by a nonprofit organization in recognition of public service;
payment or reimbursement for actual and necessary expenditures for travel and subsistence for attendance at a convention or other meeting at which the Board member is scheduled to participate;
reimbursement for or acceptance of any opportunity to participate in a social function or meeting which is not extraordinary when viewed in light of the Board member’s position;
items of perishable or nonpermanent value including but not limited to meals, lodging, travel expenses, or tickets to sporting, recreational, educational, or cultural events;
payment for speeches, debates, or other public events reported as honoraria.
A Board member may not, during the time the member serves on the Board and for one year after the member ceases to serve on the Board, be appointed to any civil office of profit or employment position which has been created or the compensation of which has been increased by the action of the Board during the time the member serves on the Board.
A member of the Board or spouse of a member may not serve as a volunteer when that volunteer has primary responsibility for a curricular, cocurricular or extracurricular program or activity and reports directly to the Superintendent, principal, athletic/ activities director or other school administrator in a public school within the jurisdiction of the Board.
For the purposes of this policy, the following statutory definitions apply:
“Employee” means a person who receives monetary payment or benefits, no matter the amount paid or hours worked, for personal services performed for a school administrative unit.
“Volunteer” means a person who performs personal services for a school administrative unity without monetary payments or benefits of any kind or amount.
Legal Reference:7 MRSA § 3104
20-A MRSA §§ 1002 et seq. l 1051
30-A MRSA §§ 2251; 2604 et seq.
section BDB BOARD OFFICERS
A Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson shall be elected annually at the Organizational Meeting, that being the first Regular Meeting after July 1st. If any vacancies occur in the office of Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, the vacancy shall be filled by election of a new Chairperson or Vice Chairperson within thirty days.
The Chairperson shall preside at all regular, special, and executive meetings. The Chairperson shall appoint all standing and temporary committees, taking into consideration volunteers, and shall be an ex officio member of such committees. The Chairperson shall perform such other duties as are required by the State or by vote of the MSAD~#34 Board of Directors.
Legal Reference: 20–A~MRSA § 1251
Section BDD BOARD/SUPERINTENDENT RELATIONSHIPS
The Board believes that the legislation of policies is the most important function of a school board and that the execution of the policies should be the function of the Superintendent.
Delegation by the Board of its executive powers to the Superintendent provides freedom for the Superintendent to manage the schools within the Board's policies and frees the Board to devote its time to policy-making and appraisal functions.
The Board holds the Superintendent responsible for the administration of its policies, the execution of Board decisions, the operation of the internal machinery designed to serve the school program, and for keeping the Board informed about school operations and problems.
The Board shall strive to procure, when a vacancy exists, the best professional leader available for the head administrative post. Then the Board as a whole and individual members shall:
Give the Superintendent full administrative authority for properly discharging the Superintendent’s professional duties, holding the Superintendent responsible for acceptable results;
Act only upon the recommendation of the Superintendent in matters of employment or dismissal of school personnel;
Hold all meetings of the Board in the presence of the Superintendent;
Refer all complaints, criticisms, and requests to the Superintendent, and discuss them only at a regular meeting of the Board after failure of administrative solution;
Strive to provide adequate safeguards around the Superintendent and other staff members to the end that they can live happily and comfortably in the community and discharge their educational functions on a thoroughly professional basis; and
Present personal criticisms of any employee directly to the Superintendent.
Legal Reference: 1MRSA § 401 et. seq.
20MRSA §§1001 et.seq.; 1051 et. seq.; 13201; 13301
Adopted: March 26, 1996
section BDE BOARD COMMITTEES
Standing committees shall be appointed by the Chairperson, shall consist of three (3) to five (5) members of the Board, and shall function at the discretion of the Board. Except as authorized by law or Board action, a standing committee may research issues and make recommendations for Board action, but may not act for the Board. The recommendations of standing committees shall be presented to the full Board for approval. All Board members shall be informed by agenda when standing committees meet, and all Board members shall have the right to attend and to participate in discussions of standing committees; however, only committee members shall be entitled to vote. All committee meetings are open to the public except Personnel and Negotiations.
In addition to standing committees, the Chairperson of the Board may establish, with the consent of the full Board, temporary Board Committees to undertake specific tasks for the District. Once a formal charge has been given to a committee, that charge cannot be overturned or changed by the committee unless the Board of Directors approves a revised charge at a regular meeting of the Board.
At the first Regular Meeting of each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), the following standing committees shall be appointed:
Building and Grounds Committee: The Building and Grounds Committee is responsible for
developing and annually updating a short-range (5 year) and long-range (10 year) building and
grounds improvement plan.
Finance: The Finance Committee shall meet monthly to review expenditures and income in relation to the adopted budget and shall report to the full Board at each Regular Meeting of the Board.
Negotiations: The Negotiations Committee shall meet as directed by the Board to conduct negotiations as required by law with the bargaining units representing employees of MSAD #34.
Personnel: The Personnel Committee shall meet to review the qualifications of candidates nominated by the Superintendent and report their recommendations to the full Board.
Policy Committee: The Policy Committee is responsible for reviewing all policies annually
and researching all legislative developments in the area and determining if there is a need
for revision or additional policies. Additionally the Committee drafts revisions and/or new
policies and presents them to the Board for review and adoption.
The Chairperson of the Board may also appoint members to represent the Board on other MSAD #34 and Regional Committees, such as the following:
Representatives to Curriculum Steering Committee: The Curriculum Steering Committee has the primary responsibility to review all curriculum/ instruction/assessment issues and make recommendations to the Superintendent. The Committee is composed of 6 teachers, 3 parents, 3 administrators and 2 Board members with the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction serving as Chair.
Representatives to Dropout Prevention Committee: The Dropout Prevention Committee is charged by state statute to study the problem of dropouts, habitual truancy and the need for alternative programs, K-12. The Committee meets at least once annually to review the alternative programs of the District.
Representatives to Professional Discussions Committee: The Professional Discussions Committee is a representative group of professional staff members from elementary, middle and high school who meet regularly with the Superintendent and two Board members to provide input on issues of concern to teachers including issues regarding curriculum, instruction, and assessment of learning.
Representatives to Vocational Region #7 Cooperative Board: The Region 7 Cooperative Board governs the Regional Technical School, and the Board is composed of three members from MSAD #3, two members from MSAD #56 and four members from MSAD #34. The Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Waldo County Technical Center.
Adopted: June 16, 1994
Revised: February 28, 1995
March 26, 1996
March 23, 1999
April 12, 2005
Section BDE-R STANDING COMMITTEE OPERATING PROCEDURES
A. Each standing committee shall meet at the call of its chair at a time and place to be designated in the call of the meeting. Standing committee meetings shall be held monthly, but additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.
B. The chair of a standing committee, in collaboration with the Superintendent/designee, will establish the agenda for each meeting to promote the orderly flow of information and the effective operations of the Board and its standing committees.
C. Notice to the public of the date, time and place of a standing committee meeting and the agenda for the meeting shall be provided at least three days in advance and in a manner consistent with the Board's policy and practice concerning notification of Board meetings.
D. The Superintendent may designate administrators or staff to serve in a liaison or advisory capacity and/or to provide information and/or resources.
E. Any member of the Board, staff or public may attend a standing committee meeting, but may speak only at the discretion of the chair.
F. The presence of a majority of the members of a standing committee shall constitute a quorum for voting purposes. Only the members of the standing committee may vote on agenda items.
G. In the event that the chair of a standing committee is unavailable for a scheduled committee meeting, the members of the standing committee will elect one of the members in attendance to act as chair for the duration of the meeting.
H. For any matter on its agenda, a standing committee may by majority vote of members present, or by consensus, agree to make recommendations to the full Board. Recommendations may be in the form of a proposed motion and/or a report. A standing committee may also forward a matter under discussion to the full Board with no recommendation.
I.Standing committee reports will be included as an agenda item for all regular Board meetings. J. Any item referred to a standing committee by the Board shall be reported on at the next regular Board meeting. The standing committee's report should indicate work completed or progress made to date. The report may include the recommendation for continued standing committee study.
K. Standing committee minutes, if prepared, are public information, subject to the Freedom of Access Law.
Legal Reference: I M.R.S.A. § 401 et seq.
Adopted: April 12, 2005
Section BEA REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS
Regular meetings shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, except that any meeting may be omitted or postponed to another day by the Superintendent with the approval of the Chairperson.
When the scheduled date of a Board meeting falls on a legal holiday, such meeting may be held on the following Tuesday.
Any regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall end before 10:00 p.m. unless a specific vote to extend the meeting for a specific length of time is passed by a majority vote of the Board.
Adopted: 1984
Revised: January 27, 1993
March 26, 1996
September 26, 2000
Section BEB SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGS
Special Board meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chairperson or when suggested by the Superintendent. Special Board meetings shall also be called when requested by three or more Board members.
The public, the press, and MSAD~#34 Teachers Association shall be informed of all special Board meetings. Except in emergencies, one week of notice will be provided.
Notice of special meetings shall state the specific agenda of the meetings and no other matters shall be discussed except by the unanimous vote of those Board members present. In no instance shall matters not stated on the posted agenda be the subject of a vote at a special meeting.
Legal Reference: 1~MRSA § 406
Section BEC EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
To enter Executive Session, the Board must:
Start with a public meeting
Have a public recorded vote of 3/5 of members present and voting; and
State the precise nature of business in the motion to go into executive session which must be consistent with the matters permitted in executive sessions by Maine law, When labor contracts are the subject of an executive session, the parties must be named.
Only matters stated in the motion may be considered and no official actions shall be finally approved in executive session. No public record shall be kept.
Items which may be discussed in Executive Session:
Discussion or consideration of employment, appointment, assignment, duties, compensation, evaluation, resignation, disciplining, promotion, demotion or dismissal of public officials, appointees or employees or the investigation of charges or complaints against persons.
Discussion or consideration of suspension or expulsion of a student, the cost of whose education is paid from public funds. The student and legal counsel (and parents or guardian if student is a minor) shall be permitted to be present if student, parents or guardian so desire.
Discussion or consideration of the condition, acquisition or the use of real or personal property only if premature disclosure would prejudice the bargaining position of the body or agency.
Board discussion of labor contracts and proposals and meetings may be held in executive session. (Negotiations between the representatives of a public employer and public employees are closed unless opened by agreement of both parties.)
Consultations between a body or agency and its attorney concerning legal rights, pending litigation, and settlement offers, when a premature public knowledge would give the Board substantial disadvantage.
Discussion of records made, maintained or received by the body or agency, when access by the general public is prohibited by statute.
Legal Reference: 1~MRSA § 405
Adopted: 1984
Revised: March 26, 1996
Revised: March 23, 1999
Revised: February 29, 2000
Section BEC-E EXECUTIVE SESSION LAW
I.TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION, A BOARD MUST:
A.Start with a public meeting
B.Pass a motion to enter executive session with a recorded vote of 3/5 members present and voting
C.State in the motion the precise nature of the business of the executive session and include a citation of one or more sources of statutory or other authority that permits an executive session for that business. The nature of each matter must be stated if more than one. When labor contracts are the topic of an executive session, the parties must be named.
II.RESTRICTIONS DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A.Only matters stated in the motion may be considered.
B.No official actions shall be finally approved
C.No public record shall be kept
III.ITEMS WHICH MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A.Discussion or consideration of the employment, appointment, assignment, duties, promotion, demotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplining, resignation or dismissal of public officials, appointees or employees of the body or agency or the investigation or hearing of charges or complaints against persons, subject to the following conditions:
1.If public discussion could be reasonably expected to cause damage to the reputation or violate the individual’s right to privacy.
2.Any person charged or investigated has the right to be present.
3.Any person charged or investigated may request in writing that the investigation be conducted in open session; such requests must be honored.
4.Any person bringing charges shall be permitted to be present (the law does not mention participation).
B.Discussion or consideration of suspension or expulsion of a student, the cost of whose education is paid from public funds. Please note that student and legal counsel (and parents or guardian if student is a minor) shall be permitted to be present if the student, parents or guardian so desires.
C.Discussion or consideration of the condition, acquisition or the use of real or personal property only if premature disclosure would prejudice the competitive or bargaining position of the body or agency. General budget matters should not be discussed in executive session.
D.Board discussion of labor contracts and proposals and meetings. (Negotiations between the representatives of a public employer and public employees are closed unless opened by agreement of both parties.)
E.Consultations between a body or agency and its attorney concerning legal rights, pending litigation, and settlement offers. When premature public knowledge would give the Board a substantial disadvantage.
F.Discussion of records made, maintained or received by the body or agency, if access is prohibited by statute.
Legal Reference: Title I MRSA § 405 (Freedom of Access law)
Taken from : MSMA HANDBOOK (2004-2006 EDITION)
Section BEDA NOTIFICATION OF BOARD MEETINGS
The Board and the public, including the press, shall generally receive notice of all meetings at least one week in advance of the date set for the meeting.
Notice of special meetings shall state the specific agenda of the meetings and no other matters shall be discussed except by the unanimous vote of those Board members present. In no instance shall matters not stated on the posted agenda be the subject of a vote at a special meeting.
Legal Reference: 1~MRSA § 406
Section BEDB AGENDA
The order of business at a regular meeting shall be as follows unless altered by
the Chairperson:
1. Call the Meeting to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3.Comments from the Public
Persons desiring to address the Board of Directors should normally limit their presentations to ten minutes. Discussion of any single topic may be limited to thirty minutes by the Chairperson. If additional time for discussion is requested, the issue shall be placed upon the agenda for the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
4. Superintendent’s Report
5. New and Continued Business
6. Committee Reports
7. Chairperson’s Report
8. Adjournment
Adopted: 1984
Revised: March 26, 1996
Revised: March 23, 1999
Section BEDC QUORUM
Eight members present shall constitute a quorum for any Board meeting.
Legal Reference: 20–A~MRSA § 1257
Section BEDD RULES OF ORDER
Roberts Rules of Orders shall govern the proceedings of the Board except when in conflict with adopted Board policies or established procedures of the Board.
The Chairperson is empowered to limit public debate unless two-thirds of the full Board votes to allow debate to continue.
Adopted: 1984
Revised: March 26, 1996
Section BEDF VOTING AND ABSTENTIONS
Individual Board members are expected to discuss school problems with interested teachers and citizens, but Board members must be careful not to appear to commit the school district to any course of action before a given issue is formally voted upon by a quorum of the Board.
Abstentions shall be recorded as such.
Adopted: 1984
Revised: March 26, 1996
Section BEDG MINUTES
All actions of the Board shall be recorded in the official MSAD #34 Minute Book.
The Minute Book shall be kept on file in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools as a permanent official record of all Board action and shall be open to the public for inspection.
Copies of the minutes shall be distributed prior to the next regular meeting of the Board.
Legal Reference: 1 MRSA § 403
Section BEDH PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS
Regular, special, and emergency meetings of the Board of Directors are open to the public. This board, as an elected representative body of MSAD~#34, wishes to provide opportunity for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the matters under consideration by the board. The public is cordially invited to attend and participate as set forth in this policy.
Board meetings are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the official business of MSAD~#34. The meetings are not public forum meetings (as are town meetings), but are meetings which are held for the Board to conduct its business in public. The minutes of each public meeting record the action taken and show how the Board voted on each item presented for action. The Minute Book is available to the public during normal business hours in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.
In order that the Board may fairly and adequately discharge its overall responsibility, a member of the public wishing to address the Board on a specific topic not otherwise on the agenda must submit such a request in writing to the Superintendent at least one full week in advance of the scheduled meeting. The Superintendent and/or Board Chairperson may add the item to the agenda at their discretion. Anyone desiring additional information about any item on the agenda should direct such inquiries to the Superintendent.
The following "ground rules" are to further guide public participation at meetings:
Citizens, employees and others with an interest in the Board's business are welcome to participate at every Board meeting. Others may be recognized to speak at the Board's discretion.
The Chairperson may limit the time given to comments on a particular topic as well as the time any individual may speak.
In the event of a sizable audience, the Chairperson may require persons interested in speaking to so indicate by signing up to speak, so they may be called on in the most expedient order.
All speakers are to identify themselves as they begin talking. The Board chair will maintain the prerogative to discontinue any presentation which violates any of the public participation guidelines.
All speakers are to address the Chairperson and may direct questions or comment |