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Public Participation

Public Participation Policies

FILE: BCBI Cf: BCB, BCBD, BCBK

The St. Mary Parish School Board shall conduct all meetings in full view of and with welcome participation by the public. However, the Board reserves the right to recess into or call executive sessions for discussing private matters. At no time will actions be taken or resolutions made during executive sessions.

Criticism or complaints directed personally at employees of the District or members of the Board are out of order during any open meeting. Such complaints about personnel will be considered, if at all, only in closed session.

REQUEST FOR ITEM TO BE PLACED ON AGENDA

All delegations or individuals who wish to appear before the Board shall submit their requests in writing to the Superintendent at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting date, stating what matters they wish considered by the Board. A written summary indicating the subject to be presented shall accompany the requests so that information pertinent to the matter can be obtained. The Superintendent shall attempt to meet with the person(s) requesting to address the Board to attempt to satisfy the concerns expressed in the written request. If this is not successful, one person per delegation shall be selected in advance as spokesperson to speak to the Board for not more than ten (10) minutes. The item that a delegation wishes to address will be added to the agenda provided they have complied with the ten (10) day notice and the issue has not been resolved by the Superintendent. Such items may be included on the agenda of the meeting at which the delegation or individual wishes to appear before the Board. The Board President, in conjunction with the Superintendent, reserves the right to determine whether to include an individual or group on the agenda.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

A public comment period shall be held before any vote is taken on an agenda item. The comment period shall precede each agenda item. However, a person is not entitled to take up business before the Board unless the item in which he/she is interested has been placed on the agenda of that meeting.

The procedures on public comment shall be as follows:

  1.  A card must be submitted to the Superintendent or his/her designee at least ten (10) minutes prior to the start of the Board meeting stating:
    1. Name of the person
    2. Delegation (organization) representing
    3. The agenda item to be addressed
  2. A separate card is to be submitted for each agenda item the speaker is asking to address.
  3. The address to the Board will immediately follow the announcement of the agenda item by the Board
  4. The address will precede any Board debate on the agenda
  5. The address will be limited to three (3) minutes unless extended by the Board President.
  6. In the event that the Board should add an item to its agenda after the Board meeting begins, the Board President shall orally request of the audience whether anyone in attendance would like to speak on the added agenda item. Each person indicating a desire to do so shall be given an opportunity to address the Board on each agenda item added. The Board shall delay deliberations on that agenda item until such time as all interested members of the public have had an opportunity to

 In addition, the President of the Board may recognize persons at the Board meetings for the purpose of introducing such persons. The President shall have the authority to remove any person disrupting or interfering in any manner with the conduction of a meeting of the Board.

Revised: July, 1988

Revised: August, 1997

Revised: February, 1998

Revised: April, 2002

Revised: September, 2008

Approved: October 9, 2008

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann §§17:81, 42:14, 42:15, 42:16, 42:23

Board minutes 5-18-88, 11-13-97, 1-10-02, 10-9-08

 

St. Mary Parish School Board