Public Participation at Board Meetings

 0167.3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS

The School Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on Corporation matters.

Any person or group wishing to place an item on the agenda shall register their intent with the Superintendent no later than five (5) days prior to the meeting and include:

• name and address of the participant;
• group affiliation, if and when appropriate;
• topic to be addressed.

Such requests shall be approved by the Superintendent and the Board President.

To permit fair and orderly public expression, the Board shall provide a period for public participation at every regular meeting of the Board.

The presiding officer of each Board meeting at which public participation is permitted shall administer the procedures of the Board for its conduct.

The presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules:

1. Public participation shall be permitted as indicated on the order of business and/or at the discretion of the presiding officer.
2. Anyone residing in the District having a legitimate interest in the actions of the Board may participate during the public portion of a meeting.
3. Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and will be requested to preface their comments by an announcement of their name, address, and/or group affiliation, if and when appropriate. Participants should also provide this same information on the sign-in sheet.
4. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes duration.
5. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic unless all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
6. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no person may address or question Board members individually.
7. The presiding officer may:
   1.  interrupt, warn, or terminate a person's statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, or irrelevant.
   2. request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum;
   3. request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person's conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting.
   4. call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum so interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting as to warrant such action;
   5. waive these rules with the approval of the Board when necessary for the protection of privacy or the administration of the Board's business.
8. The portion of the meeting during which the participation of the public is invited shall be limited to the Public Concerns, unless extended by a vote of the Board.
9. Tape or video recordings are permitted, providing the person operating the recorder has contacted the Superintendent prior to the Board meeting to review possible placement of the equipment, and agrees to abide by the following conditions.
   1. No obstructions are created between the Board and the audience.
   2. No interviews are conducted during the Board meeting.
   3. No commentary is made that would distract either the Board or members of the audience.

I.C. 5-14-1.5-1