Redline Version of BCBI Public Participation in Board Meetings

                                                                                    Board Policy Manual
                                                                            DeKalb County School District

Board Policy BCBI: Public Par cipa on in Board Mee ngs                                  Status: DRAFT -
                                                                                        1st Reading

Original Adopted Date: 04/01/2003 | Last Revised Date: Pending | Last Reviewed Date:
11/06/2024




Red Lined Version

The DeKalb County Board of Educa on encourages the public to be involved in public educa on.
To facilitate public input, it is the intent of this policy that the Board shall will conduct a monthly
Community Mee ng in accordance with the procedures below. The Community Mee ng is
intended to allow speakers to address issues before the Board or other subjects per nent to the
Board or the DeKalb County School District.

Before addressing the Board, individuals are urged to seek a sa sfactory solu on to their concerns
by following the proper staff and administra ve channels.

Eligibility and Sign Up

In order to assure that persons who wish to appear before the Board may be heard and, at the
same me, allow the Board to conduct its mee ngs in an orderly and efficient manner, the Board
adopts the following guidelines for the public comment por on of its mee ngs:

       The opportunity to provide public comment is limited to District parents of students
        enrolled in the District, District students, residents, District employees, businesses, and
        organiza ons, en es and individuals who either reside or conduct business within the
        district’s geographic boundaries. of the District.s.

       Before addressing the Board, individuals are urged to seek a sa sfactory solu on to their
        concerns by following the proper staff and administra ve channels.

       Individuals wishing to speak may submit a request in wri ng to the Board Office via le er,
        fax, or e-mail. no later than 12:00 noon on the day of the Community Mee ng. Such request
        shall will include the individual’s name, address, topic to be addressed, previous steps taken
        to resolve the concern, and the group (if any) that the individual is represen ng. If an
        individual is unable to a end the mee ng a er signing up in advance, he/she the
        speaker may appoint a subs tute speaker by calling the Board Office by noon of the mee ng
        day.

       In addi on, speakers may complete a Request to Comment card in person between 4:30 and
        5:30 p.m. on the day of the mee ng. Cards must be completely filled out, providing the
        informa on listed in the preceding paragraph.

                                                                                                           Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or numbering
      All speaker requests must be submi ed by 5:45 p.m. on the day of the Community Mee ng.

      An organiza on may sign up to speak by designa ng an duly authorized spokesperson and
       one alternate, who may speak only if the primary spokesperson is unable to a end. By
       signing up and addressing the Board on behalf of an organiza on, the speaker is
       represen ng that he or she has been duly authorized by that organiza on to make the
       comments presented.
      To allow the Board to receive input from as many stakeholders as possible, individuals who
       speak during a Community Mee ng one month may only speak at the next month's mee ng
       if there are spaces remaining a er all non-repea ng speakers have signed up.

      Speakers shall have a maximum of three (3) minutes each and must stop speaking promptly
       when their me is up.

Mee ng Structure


      To allow me for the Board's other business, the public comment period will be a maximum
       of one (1) hour or 20 speakers. At the Board’s discre on, the comment period may be
       extended for a specified amount of me or a specific number of addi onal speakers.
      Speakers have a maximum of (3)three minutes each and must stop speaking promptly when
       their me is up.
      Speakers are encouraged to provide the Board with a wri en copy of their comments and
       other appropriate suppor ng documenta on.
      The Community Mee ng is designed to gain input from the public and not for immediate
       responses by the Board. While the Board cannot assure each speaker of a specific or
       individualized response, the Board will consider the public comments and any suppor ng
       materials provided by speakers.

      To allow the Board to receive input from as many stakeholders as possible, individuals who
       speak during a Community Mee ng one month may only speak at the next month’s mee ng
       if there are spaces remaining a er all non-repea ng speakers have signed up.

Speaker E que e



      Speakers should be courteous and professional. Speakers may offer objec ve cri cisms of
       school opera ons and programs, but the Board will not hear complaints about specific
       personnel or individuals connected with the District in a public session. Other channels
       provide a more appropriate forum for considera on and resolu on of legi mate complaints
       involving individuals.

      Individuals will not be denied the opportunity to address the Board on the basis of their
       viewpoint. However, the Board will not allow abusive language, threats, comments, jeers,
       applause, or shouts from the floor. Disrup ve persons will be asked to leave the mee ng
       room. The presiding officer may terminate public comments that are profane, vulgar,
       defamatory, or disrup ve.

      Speakers may not address confiden al student or personnel ma ers, but may submit such
       concerns to the Superintendent in wri ng.
       Speakers are encouraged to provide the Board with a wri en copy of their comments and
        other appropriate suppor ng documenta on.

       The Community Mee ng is designed to gain input from the public and not for immediate
        responses by the Board. While the Board cannot assure each speaker of a specific or
        individualized response, the Board will consider the public comments and any suppor ng
        materials provided by speakers.

Special Circumstances



       In its discre on and as deemed appropriate, the Board may allow for public comment during
        Commi ee of the Whole mee ngs and, in such case, shall establish procedures for public
        par cipa on. In addi on to any applicable guidelines above, comments of speakers must be
        germane to the topic and issues before the Commi ee of the Whole.
       At the Board's discre on, the comment period may be extended for a specified amount of
          me or a specific number of addi onal speakers.




Policy Reference Disclaimer:
 These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority
for the board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as addi onal resources for those interested in the
subject ma er of the policy.

Note: To access the policy references, CLICK HERE: State of Georgia Terms and Condi ons and close the
LexisNexis tab, which will return you to the policy. Click on the links below to be taken to each specific
code. You should only have to do this one me per session.




State                                          Descrip on
O.C.G.A. 16-11-0034                            Preven ng or disrup ng a mee ng of General Assembly
                                               or other mee ngs of members

O.C.G.A. 16-11-0035                            Removal from campus or facility of unit of university
                                               system or school; failure to leave

O.C.G.A. 20-02-0058                            Regular monthly mee ng of local boards; adjournment;
                                               temporary presiding officer; no ce of date; template for
                                               financial review; open mee ngs

O.C.G.A. 50-14-0001                            Open Mee ngs Act; no ce; minutes; telecommunica on
                                               conferences

Federal                                        Descrip on
USC 1st Amendment                              First Amendment, U.S. Cons tu on