BEDH - Public Participation at Board Meetings

Regular,PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS

The primary purpose of a School Board meeting is to conduct the business of the School Board related to policies, programs, and operations. All regular, special and emergency meetings of the school boardBoard are open to the public. ThisThe board,public is cordially invited to attend and participate in Board meetings as anprovided electedin representativethis bodypolicy.

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Although Board meetings are not public forums, the schoolBoard unit, wishes towill provide opportunityappropriate opportunities for citizens to express interestsopinions and concerns related to the matters under consideration by the board.Board. The public is cordially invited to attend and participate as set forth in this policy.

Board meetings are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the official business of the school system. The meetings are not public forum meetings (as are town meetings), but are meetings which are held for the board to do its business in public. The minutes of each public meeting will record the action taken and will show how the board voted on each item presented for action. The journal of minutes is open and available to the public during normal business hours in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools and on the RSU 1 website.

Orderly conduct of a meeting does not permit spontaneous discussion between the audience and board members. Individuals or organizations desiring to make requests, or proposals on matters before the board will be provided that opportunity during the public session.

At the discretion of the Chair, public participation shall be allowed just prior to board discussion of the agenda items upon which citizens wish to comment. The chair may also allow at his/her discretion public input during the discussion of agenda items.

The intent of this policy is to allow a fair and adequate opportunity for the public to be heard,heard and to provide adequate time for the boardBoard to obtain necessaryinformation informationand opinion on a subjectsubjects before it, andwhile to seeensuring that the time allowed for openpublic discussion does not interfere with the fulfillment of the scheduled agenda.

To permit fair, orderly, and inclusive expression of public comment at meetings while still allowing the Board to conduct its business efficiently, the Board has established the following procedure for regular business meetings.

A. The School Board will include a public comment period on the agenda of its regular business meetings. Individuals may speak once and are limited to a maximum of 3 minutes. The length of the board.public comment period and the time limits in this paragraph may be modified at a particular meeting at the discretion of the Chair. B. Residents of RSU 1 are welcome to participate as provided in this policy, as well as parent/guardians, students, and employees of RSU 1. If there is time remaining in the public comment period once all residents of RSU 1 as well as parents/guardians, students and employees of RSU 1 have had the opportunity to speak, the Chair may permit comments from others. Others may be recognized and speak at the Chair’s discretion. Individuals who wish to speak may be required to complete out a sign-in form. Each individual will be required to state their name and the town/city of residence before speaking. C. Speakers will be recognized by the Chair. Requests for information or concerns that require further research may be referred to the Superintendent for further action, if necessary. D. Speakers are expected to follow common etiquette and decorum, including refraining from using vulgar and/or obscene language, yelling, threatening others using words or by other actions, making defamatory comments, or otherwise engaging in any activity that disrupts orderly meeting progress. Examples of disruptive conduct include, but are not limited to, exceeding the allotted time limits, interrupting others, offering repetitive comments, and offering comment on matters unrelated to the school unit’s programs policies, or operations.
E. Discussion of personnel matters are not permitted during the public comment period due to the privacy, confidentiality, and due process rights of school unit employees. For the purposes of this policy, “discussion of personnel matter” means any discussion of job performance or conduct of a school unit employee, including complaints or positive/complimentary comments about them. F. Discussion of matters including students is also not permitted during the public comment period due to the privacy, confidentiality, and due process rights of school unit students. G. Any concerns about personnel matters and/or student matters should be directed to the Superintendent or another appropriate administrator outside of School Board meetings so that they can be addressed through an alternative channel and in a manner consistent with privacy, confidentiality, and due process rights of the individuals involved. H. The Chair will stop any public comment that is contrary to these rules. Individuals who disrupt a School Board meeting may be asked to leave to allow the School Board to conduct its business in an orderly manner. The Chair may request the assistance of law enforcement if necessary to address disruptions or safety concerns.

An agenda shall be published in advance of each meeting in accordance with boardBoard policy. Copies are towill be posted and/or available prior to regular meetings at the superintendent'Superintendent’s office and in each school, town hall, the public library or other appropriate public facilities and on the RSUSchool 1Department’s website. Anyone desiring additional information about anyan agenda item on the agenda should direct such inquiries to the Office of the Superintendent.

The following ground rules are to further guide public participation at meetings:

A. The chair may limit the time given to comments on a particular topic as well as the amount of time any individual may speak.

B. In the event of many persons wishing to speak, the chair may require persons interested in speaking to so indicate by signing up to speak, so they may be called on in the most expedient order.

C. Citizens, employees, and others with a legitimate interest in the board's business are welcome to participate as provided in this policy. Others may be recognized to speak at the board's discretion. Employees or employee groups will not be permitted to discuss matters for which other, more appropriate forums are provided.

D. All speakers are to identify themselves as they begin talking. Speakers will not be permitted to participate in gossip, make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language.

E. The board chair will maintain the prerogative to discontinue any presentation which violates any of the public participation guidelines.

F. All speakers are to address the board chair and may direct questions or comments to board members or other officers of the school system only upon approval of the chair. Members of the board and the superintendent have the privilege of asking questions of any person who addresses the board. Such questions must be addressed through the chair.

G. Comments and suggestions will be welcomed and given consideration by the board, including written comments. Speakers may offer objective comments on school operations and programs that concern them. Generally, the board may hear but not discuss or act on an item not on the agenda. Personnel matters or complaints will not be entertained in a public meeting but will be deferred to established resolution procedures.

H. No complaints or allegations will be allowed concerning any personnel or any person connected to the school system. If appropriate, concerns about an individual will be handled in a conference where the rights and interests of all parties will be appropriately regarded.

I. Generally, duplication or repetition of comments to the board should be avoided in order to make the most efficient use of the time in meetings. Groups or organizations are requested to be represented by designated spokespersons.

J. If a member of the public or group desires to make a public presentation on business germane to the Board, that request should be made through the superintendent's office as a future agenda item.

K. Special procedures shall be in place in case of disturbance or disorder. Such procedure shall be prepared and reviewed annually by the superintendent, board chair, board attorney, and others, as appropriate, and attached to this policy as board regulations BEDH-R. Legal Reference: TITLE20-A MRSA § 1001 (20), 20-A MRSA § 6101, 1 MRSAMSRA SEC.§ 401,405

ET SEQ. -- FREEDOM OF ACCESS

Cross Reference: BE – Regular Board Meeting BEC - EXECUTIVEExecutive SESSIONSession BEDA -– NOTIFICATIONNotification OFof BOARDBoard MEETINGSMeetings BEDBABEDB -– AGENDAAgenda PREPARATIONPreparation ANDand DISSEMINATIONDissemination BEDD – Rules of Order KE – Public Concerns and Complaints

BEDC - QUORUM

BEDD - RULES OF ORDER

BEDG - MINUTES

Adopted:  November 16, 2009


Revised:  December 15, 2025