Code No. 213
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BOARD MEETINGS
The board recognizes the importance of citizen participation in school district matters. In order to assure citizens are heard and board meetings are conducted efficiently and in an organized manner, the board will set time aside for citizen participation, at a specific time during the meeting. Citizens wishing to present petitions to the board may do so at this time. In addition, the board president may recognize citizens who wish to address the board on a certain agenda item. However, the board will only receive the petitions and not act upon them or their contents. The board has the discretion to limit or to waive the amount of time set aside for public participation.
The orderly process of the board meeting will not be interfered with or disrupted. Only those speakers recognized by the board president will be allowed to speak. Comments by others are out of order. If disruptive, an individual causing disruption may be asked to leave the board meeting.
Individuals who have a complaint about employees may bring their complaint to the board only after they have followed board policy addressing citizens' complaints. Students who have a complaint may only bring their complaint to the board after they have followed board policy addressing students' complaints.
NOTE: Members of the public do not have a legal right to participate in board meetings. Boards need to make the determination how best, if at all, to involve the public in their board meetings. Boards that follow other practices for allowing the public to participate in board meetings should amend this policy to reflect their practice.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 21; 22; 279.8 (2013).
Cross Reference:
205 Board Member Liability
210.8 Board Meeting Agenda
214 Public Hearings
307 Communication Channels
401.4 Employee Complaints
402.5 Public Complaints About Employees
502.4 Student Complaints and Grievances
Approved: 07-09-08
Reviewed: 04-23-14
Revised: 08-13-08