213 - Public Participation in Board Meetings
213 - Public Participation in Board MeetingsThe 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 aside a specific time for public comment.
Citizens wishing to address the board the board secretary prior to the board meeting. The board president will recognize these individuals to make their comments at the appropriate time during public comment. Citizens wishing to present petitions to the board may do so at this time. The board however, will only receive the petitions and not act upon them or their contents.
The board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public participation. Normally, speakers will be limited to five minutes. However, the board president may modify this time limit, if deemed appropriate or necessary. Public comment is a time set aside for community input, but the board will not discuss or take any action on any matter during public comment.
A public comment shall be limited to regular board meetings and will not be routinely held during special board meetings.
The board has a significant interest in maintaining the decorum of its meetings, and it is expected that members of the public and the board will address each other with civility. The orderly process of the board meeting will not be interfered with or disrupted by public comment. Only individuals recognized by the board president will be allowed to speak. Comments by others are out of order. If disruptive, the individual causing disruption may be asked to leave the board meeting. Defamatory comments may be subject to legal action.
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: Dec. 16, 1985
Reviewed: Aug. 24, 2005, July 11, 2011, May 17, 2021
Revised: Dec. 16, 1996, September 18, 2017, May 17, 2021
213.1E1 - Request to Speak to the Board of Education
213.1E1 - Request to Speak to the Board of EducationIf you wish to speak to the Fairfield Community Board of Education during the meeting tonight, please check the appropriate response, sign your name, and present this request to the Superintendent or Board President prior to the beginning of the meeting. Thank you.
FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
_____ I wish to speak to the Board of Education about the following agenda item. (list topic)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_____ I wish to speak to the Board of Education during the “Opportunity for Persons no on the Agenda.” (You may present comments, suggestions, or concerns you may have on items not listed on the agenda.)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
I understand that I will be limited to five minutes for my presentation unless granted additional time by the Board President.
NAME ___________________________________
ADDRESS___________________________________
Approved: Nov 17, 2014
Reviewed: Sep 22, 2014
Revised: Sep 22, 2014, September 18, 2017
213.1R1 - General Complaints by Citizens
213.1R1 - General Complaints by CitizensThe board recognizes that concerns regarding the operation of the school district will arise. The board further believes that constructive criticism can assist in improving the quality of the education program and in meeting individual student needs more effectively. The board also places trust in its employees and desires to support their actions in a manner which frees them from unnecessary or unwarranted criticism and complaints.
Procedures for dealing with complaints concerning programs or practices will be governed by the following principles:
- where action/investigation is desired by the complainant, or where it seems appropriate, the matter will be handled as near the source as possible at the lowest level of organization possible;
- complaints will both be investigated and, if possible, resolved expeditiously;
- complaints will be dealt with courteously and in a constructive manner; and,
- individuals directly affected by the complaint will have an opportunity to respond.
Specific procedures for handling complaints may be established in policies. The board, consistent with its board policy-making role, will deal with complaints concerning specific schools, programs or procedures only after the usual channels have been exhausted. Complaints regarding employees or complaints by students should follow the more specific policies on those issues.
When a complaint requiring attention is received by the board or a board member it will be referred to the superintendent. After all of the channels have been exhausted, the complainant may appeal to the board by requesting a place on the board agenda or during the public audience portion of the board meeting. If the complainant appeals to the board, the appeal will be in writing, will be signed, and will explain the process followed by the complainant prior to the appeal to the board. It is within the board’s discretion to determine whether to hear the complaint.
On behalf of fellow Board members, at this time I would like to invite any member of the audience to step to the microphone with comments about items of interest or concern that do not appear on the agenda this evening. Please begin by stating your name and address. It would be appreciated if you would limit your comments to a maximum of 5 minutes so that we can keep the meeting moving in a timely fashion and allow others an opportunity to speak. We ask that you remember that Iowa law prohibits us from discussing specific employees or their job performance. If you have thoughts to share about items that are included as topics for tonight’s meeting, we would invite those comments at this time.
Cross Reference: 502.4 Student Complaints and Grievances
213 Public Participation in Board Meetings
402.5 Public Complaints About Employees
210.8 Board Meeting Agenda
Approved: Nov 17, 2014
Reviewed: Sep 22, 2014
Revised: Sep 22, 2014, September 18, 2017