Public Participation in Board Meeting
The Board of Directors encourages all citizens of the Charter School to express their ideas and concerns. During a time of Health Emergency, the Board may offer the ability to attend their meeting remotely, including the ability to submit patron input electronically ahead of time. Such electronically provided input shall be provided to the Board of Directors. The comments of the community will be given careful consideration. In the evaluation of such comments, first priority will be the Charter School students and their educational program.
NOTICE
DUE TO THEIR SENSITIVE NATURE, COMMENTS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT PERSONNEL OR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS WILL ONLY BE HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ADDITIONALLY, OTHER TOPICS YOU WISH TO ADDRESS MAY ONLY BE APPROPRIATE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. IN SUCH INSTANCES, THE BOARD WILL DETERMINE IF YOUR COMMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR OPEN OR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WILL NOTIFY YOU ACCORDINGLY.
A PERSON WHO DISRUPTS THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OR WHOSE PRESENCE IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE MORALS, HEALTH, SAFETY, ACADEMIC LEARNING OR DISCIPLINE OF THE PUPILS OR WHO LOITERS IN SCHOOLS OR ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
Any complaint about the Charter School, 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.
Members of the public will not be recognized by the Chair as the Board conducts its official business except when the Board schedules public discussion 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.
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 3 minutes. Public comment will be taken on matters scheduled on the agenda. Should a large number of members of 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 materials for the Executive Director must be submitted to the Board Clerk. The written material 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 Directors if received by noon the Friday 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: 203 Center Street West, Kimberly, ID, 83341. 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, members of the Board will not respond to public comment. Instead, issues may be recorded and referred to the proper staff person for follow-up. The Chair may interrupt or terminate an individual’s statement when it is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, repetitive, or irrelevant. 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 willfully disrupts a meeting to the extent that orderly conduct is seriously compromised. Defamatory or abusive remarks are always out of order. 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:
Reviewed on: