Participation in Board Meeting
The Board of Directors encourages all citizens of the Charter School community to express their ideas and concerns on agenda items, the comments of the community will be given careful consideration. In the evaluation of such comments, the first priority will be School students and their educational program. Public input on agenda items shall not be on any subject that would compel the Board to enter into executive session. The Board shall make a determination as to whether or not the desired subject matter requested for public input is related to the Board’s agenda and/or if a matter would require executive session.
The Board may offer the ability to attend their meeting remotely, including the ability to submit patron input electronically ahead of time at a time and in a manner identified by the Board. Such electronically provided input shall be provided to the Board of Directors and made a part of the minutes.
Addressing Complaints and Grievances
DUE TO THEIR SENSITIVE NATURE, COMMENTS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT PERSONNEL OR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS CANNOT BE HEARD IN OPEN SESSION. ADDITIONALLY, OTHER TOPICS DESCRIBED IN POLICY 1500 MAY ONLY BE APPROPRIATE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ALL GRIEVANCE PROCESSES SHALL BE FOLLOWED BEFORE THE BOARD MAY ENTERTAIN SUCH SUBJECT MATTER. THE BOARD SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER A PUBLIC COMMENT IS APPROPRIATE IN OPEN SESSION AND NOTIFY THE COMMENTER IF IT IS NOT.
Any complaint about the Charter School on these or other topics, including instruction, discipline, school personnel policy, procedure, or curriculum, should be referred through proper administrative channels before it is presented to the Board for consideration and action. All complaints should be resolved through proper channels in the following order:
1. Teacher or staff;
2. Supervisor, if applicable;
3. Principal, if applicable;
4. Executive Director; then
5. Board of Directors.
Please also see Charter School Policy No. 4110 Public Complaints.
Complaints or grievances on topics that may only be considered in executive session will only be heard by the Board in accordance with the applicable grievance or complaint policy. Such executive session may be arranged in advance and included on the agenda as described in Policy 1500 and Procedure 1500P.
Rules and Process for Public Comment
Members of the public will not be recognized by the Chair as the Board conducts its official business except when the Board schedules public comment period on a particular item. The Board will listen to the public but, at the same time, expects the public to listen and speak only when properly recognized.
At each regular and special meeting of the Board the agenda will provide time for public comment before the Board. Persons wishing to address the Board will be required to submit a “Request to Address the Board” form. Forms are available from the Board Clerk and will be available at each meeting.
The Board shall ensure that members of the following groups, listed in no particular order, are given priority to participate in Board meetings:
1. Students who attend the School;
2. Parents/guardians of such students;
3. Employees of the School; and
4. People who reside within the School’s attendance area.
Attendees who do not belong to any of these groups will only be allowed to speak after members of the groups listed above have provided comment and only if there is still time available within the public comment period.
To be efficient and effective, long board meetings will be avoided. As such, total time allotted for public comment will not exceed 30 minutes. Public participation will be limited to the time allotted on the agenda. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes. A speaker can supplement their comments with additional information provided in writing, if they wish. Public comment will be taken on matters scheduled on the agenda. Should a large number of members of the public wish to speak on the same issue or topic, members of the public are encouraged to select one or more representatives to summarize their position. Additionally, the Board Clerk will accept written comments for distribution to the Board. The Board may decline to hear repetitive comments. The Chair may also deny an individual the opportunity to address the Board if the individual has previously addressed the Board on the same subject within the past two months.
Written comments for the Executive Director must be submitted to the Board Clerk. The comments must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting it. A copy of the materials that meet these requirements will be forwarded to Director if received by 3:00 p.m. one week preceding the Board meeting. Materials should not be sent directly to the Executive Director. Materials may be presented or mailed to the Board Clerk at: Attn: Haylee Mollerup, 203 Center St W, Kimberly, ID 83341, or emailed to the Board clerk at hmollerup@kimberly.edu.
If a topic is being considered by a committee established for that purpose, the Chair may refer the public comment to that committee.
Because of the diversity of issues that may be commented upon and the confines of the Open Meeting Laws, members of the Board will not respond to public comment nor engage in discussion with individuals or entities presenting public input. Instead, issues may be recorded and referred to the proper staff person for follow-up and/or considered by the Board in addressing the pending agenda items through open discussion or voting. The Chair may interrupt or terminate an individual’s statement when it is too lengthy, abusive, obscene, repetitive, irrelevant, threatening to any individual, or if they are going off-topic from an item listed on the agenda. These restrictions shall be applied narrowly and equally, regardless of the speaker’s opinions or viewpoint . The Board of Directors as a whole shall have the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings.
Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the removal of any person who, in the judgement of the Board Chair, willfully disrupts a meeting to the extent that orderly conduct is seriously compromised. Defamatory or abusive remarks are always out of order, and any person may be removed from the meeting if they are engaging in illegal conduct. The presiding officer may terminate the speaker’s privilege of address if, after being called to order, the speaker persists in improper conduct or remarks.
If a special meeting has been held to obtain public comment on a specific issue, the Chair of the Board may elect not to recognize speakers wishing to comment on the same topic at a regular meeting of the Board.
Cross References:
§ 4110 Public Complaints
§ 4120 Uniform Grievance Procedure
§ 4320 Disruption of School Operations
Legal References:
I.C. § 33-512 Governance of Schools
I.C. § 33-512(11) Governance of Schools – District Permitted to Prohibit Entry to School Grounds
I.C. § 74-206 Executive Sessions — When Authorized
Policy History:
Adopted on: May 17, 2021
Revised on: May 26, 2026
Reviewed on: