Gooding Joint School District No. 231

BOARD OF TRUSTEES                                                                                          1520

Public Participation in Board Meeting

The Board of Trustees encourages all citizens of the District to express their ideas and concerns. The comments of the community will be given careful consideration. In the evaluation of such comments, first priority will be District students and their educational program.

NOTICE

DUE TO THEIR SENSTIVE NATURE, COMMENTS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT PERSONNEL OR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS WILL ONLY BE HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. Idaho Code § 67-2345.

“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 SCHOOLHOUSES OR ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.”  Idaho Code § 33-512 (11).

Any complaint about the District, including instruction, discipline, District 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. Principal or Supervisor
3. Director or Administrator
4. Superintendent
5. Board of Trustees

(Please also see the District policy regarding public complaints.)

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 APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD” form. Forms are available from the Board Clerk and will be available at each meeting.

Public comment will be allowed on most new issues addressed by the Board. Total time allotted for public comment will not exceed one (1) hour. Public participation will be limited to the time allotted on the agenda. Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes. All speakers will be allowed to speak at least once before a speaker is allowed to address the board a second time. Additional time, up to two (2) minutes may be granted by the Board after all of the speakers have been allowed to speak. Public comment will be taken from the public on matters scheduled on the agenda. Should a large number of the public wish to speak on the same issue or topic, the

Board encourages members of the public to select a representative or representatives to summarize their position.

Speakers may offer objective criticism of school operations and programs, but the Board will not hear complaints about school personnel or other persons at a public session.

If a topic is being considered by a committee established for that purpose, the Chairman 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 presiding officer may interrupt or terminate an individual’s statement when it is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, repetitive, or irrelevant. The Board of Trustees 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 Chairman of the Board may not recognize speakers wishing to comment on the same topic at a regular meeting of the Board.

Written Submissions

The Board may, from time to time, depending upon the circumstances and time constraints relevant to any issues, allow members of the public to submit written statements of position which will be considered prior to the Board making any final decision upon the matter. Written materials for Board members 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 Board members if received by noon on the Friday preceding the Board meeting. Materials should not be sent directly to Board members. Materials may be presented or mailed to the Board Clerk at 507 Idaho Street, Gooding, Idaho 83330.

Legal Reference:    I.C. § 33-512 (11)

I.C. § 67-2345

Policy History Promulgated on: 12/13/11 Revised on:

Reviewed on: 12/8/20