Public Comment

Public Comment Rules / Board Meetings

The following individuals shall have a right to provide public comment at Board meetings:

1. Residents of the District;

2. Parents, legal guardians, persons having lawful control of a student, or persons standing in loco parentis to a student enrolled in the District; or

3. District employees.

A sign-up sheet shall be provided at least ______6 minutes prior to the start of a Board meeting for individuals wishing to provide public comment. The sign-up sheet shall include spaces for individuals wishing to provide public comment to indicate the:

· Name of the persons who will be providing the public comment; and

· Agenda item, if any, the person wishes to speak on.

While individuals may give public comment on any matter that is within the powers and duties of the Board, individuals may not provide public comment that prejudices the Board concerning a student or personnel matter that is on the agenda concerning a disciplinary or employment action.

Individuals who sign up to provide public comment shall have three (3)7 minutes to provide public comment as follows:

a. Individuals who have not signed up to provide public comment on an item on the meeting’s agenda shall be given an opportunity for public comment at the start of the Board meeting prior to any business or an executive session. If the public comment on matters that are not on the meeting’s agenda extends beyond thirty (30) minutes, the Board may move the remaining public comments not concerning items on the meeting’s agenda to the end of the meeting agenda; and

b. Individuals who have signed up to provide public comment on an item on the meeting’s agenda shall be given an opportunity to provide public comment prior to the board taking action on the item the individual has signed up to speak on.8

Notes: 1 You may adjust the time ahead of a meeting when a member of the board must submit a request for an item to be placed on the agenda to align with your local practice. The five (5) days here is to match the deadline for requests from the public and when the superintendent has to notify the board president of all requests.

– You may choose to add additional individuals (such as the President of the Board) to whom requested agenda items may be given to.

– The five (5) days here is the deadline set in A.C.A. § 6-13-619(a)(2)(A) for the superintendent to notify the board president of all requests to be placed on the agenda. The superintendent’s notification must include the superintendent’s recommendation for each request.

– Select the amount of time you choose to allow the patron to speak before the board.

– Select the number of days that the Board and Superintendent agree to be necessary and doable.

– Insert the minimum amount of time the sign-up sheet will be available prior to the start of the meeting. Make sure that the amount of time provides a reasonable opportunity for individuals to sign up.

– Three (3) minutes is the minimum required by law.

– You may choose to have all public comment provided at the start of the meeting rather than having public comment on specific agenda items taken up at that time; however, if you include public comment on agenda items at the beginning of the meeting, you may not move public comment on specific agenda items to after the meeting if public comment is going to last longer than thirty (30) minutes.

Cross Reference: 1.9—POLICY FORMULATION

5.20—DISTRICT WEBSITE

Legal References: A.C.A. § 6-11-129

A.C.A. § 6-13-619

A.C.A. § 6-17-205

A.C.A. § 6-17-2305