FILE: BCBI
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
The DeSoto Parish School Board desires the citizens of the district to attend its meetings so that they may become better acquainted with the schools and so that the School Board may have opportunity to hear the wishes and/or ideas of the public.
It is the policy of the School Board to conduct all meetings in full view of and with welcomed participation by the public. However, the School Board reserves the right to recess into or call executive sessions for discussing matters as provided by state law. During executive sessions, no action shall be taken or resolutions made.
REQUEST FOR ITEM TO BE PLACED ON AGENDA
All delegations or individuals who wish to appear before the School Board shall submit their written requests to the Superintendent at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting date, stating what matters they wish to take up with the School Board. Such items will normally be included on the agenda of the meeting at which the delegation or individual wishes to appear before the School Board. If not submitted on time to be placed on the agenda, the item will be held over for the next scheduled meeting of the School Board. Each delegation appearing before the School Board shall select in advance one (1) person as its spokesperson and statements shall be presented in a concise manner. If fewer than five (5) persons wish to address the School Board, each speaker will be allowed up to five (5) minutes. If more than five (5) persons wish to address the School Board, each speaker shall be allowed up to three (3) minutes.
All speakers shall be permitted to address the School Board without interruption by School Board or staff members. Any written information speakers may want to be given to School Board members must be submitted to a staff member for distribution to the School Board members. Speakers cannot leave the speakers stand when addressing the School Board and must speak into the microphone. After completing his/her comments the speaker shall be seated and the Superintendent may answer the speaker’s questions or make clarifying statements.
This time on the agenda is intended for visitor input and is not a time for debate or discussion by School Board members or the speaker.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
A public comment period shall be held before any vote is taken on an agenda item. Comments from the public shall occur after introduction of the item to be voted on and before any discussion by School Board members. However, a person is not entitled to take up business before the School Board unless the item in which he/she is interested has been placed on the agenda of that meeting.
Before each meeting of the School Board, a copy of the agenda for that meeting shall be posted at the meeting place or otherwise conspicuously displayed. Any person wishing to speak on any of the items listed in such agenda must complete and submit a card containing the name of the person, the name of any organization or group for whom the individual wishes to speak, and the specific agenda item about which the person wishes to speak. A separate card must be completed and submitted for each different agenda item on which the individual would like to address the School Board.
The comment cards will be collected and forwarded to the School Board President at the beginning of the meeting. No comment card shall be accepted after the meeting begins.
As the School Board reaches each item on its agenda, the School Board President shall review the submitted cards and shall call on those persons indicating a desire to speak on that item. Each person may speak for not more than three (3) minutes on each item. The School Board shall delay its deliberations on each agenda item until after all members of the public who have submitted cards in accordance with this procedure have been given an opportunity to speak.
In the event that the School Board should add an item to its agenda after the School Board meeting begins, a slightly different procedure shall be followed. After the item has been added to the School Board’s agenda by vote of the School Board, the School Board President shall orally request of the audience whether anyone in attendance would like to speak on that item. Each person indicating a desire to do so shall be given a period not to exceed three (3) minutes to address the School Board on each agenda item. The School Board shall delay its deliberations on each agenda item until such time as all interested members of the public have had an opportunity to speak.
At the conclusion of all public input on each agenda item, the School Board shall deliberate the matter and take such action as it considers appropriate. There shall be no further public input allowed on each agenda item after the School Board has begun its deliberation of that item.
Copies of this procedure shall be available for distribution to the public during regular business hours and at meetings of the School Board and its committees.
Approved: June, 2003
Revised: November 2, 2006
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 42:14, 42:15, 42:16
Board minutes, 10-2-97, 11-2-06
DeSoto Parish School Board