Clean Version Board Policy BCBI_ Public Participation in Board Meetings 1.10.2025

                                                                                    Board Policy Manual
                                                                            DeKalb County School District

Board Policy BCBI: Public Participation in Board Meetings                               Status: DRAFT -
                                                                                        1st Reading

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




Clean Version

The DeKalb County Board of Education encourages the public to be involved in public education.
To facilitate public input, the Board will conduct a monthly Community Meeting in accordance with
the procedures below. The Community Meeting is intended to allow speakers to address issues
before the Board or other subjects pertinent to the Board or the DeKalb County School District.

Before addressing the Board, individuals are urged to seek a satisfactory solution to their concerns
by following the proper staff and administrative channels.

Eligibility and Sign Up


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

    •   Individuals wishing to speak may submit a request in writing to the Board Office via letter,
        fax, or e-mail. Such request 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 representing. If an individual is unable to attend the meeting after signing up in
        advance, the speaker may appoint a substitute speaker by calling the Board Office by noon
        of the meeting day.

    •   In addition, speakers may complete a Request to Comment card in person on the day of the
        meeting. Cards must be completely filled out, providing the information listed in the
        preceding paragraph.

    •   All speaker requests must be submitted by 5:45 p.m. on the day of the Community Meeting.

    •   An organization may sign up to speak by designating an authorized spokesperson and one
        alternate, who may speak only if the primary spokesperson is unable to attend.

    •   To allow the Board to receive input from as many stakeholders as possible, individuals who
        speak during a Community Meeting one month may only speak at the next month's meeting
        if there are spaces remaining after all non-repeating speakers have signed up.
Meeting Structure

    •   To allow time for the Board's other business, the public comment period will be a maximum
        of one hour or 20 speakers.

    •   Speakers have a maximum of three minutes each and must stop speaking promptly when
        their time is up.

    •   Speakers are encouraged to provide the Board with a written copy of their comments and
        other appropriate supporting documentation.


    •   The Community Meeting 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 supporting
        materials provided by speakers.

Speaker Etiquette

    •   Speakers should be courteous and professional. Speakers may offer objective criticisms of
        school operations 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 consideration and resolution of legitimate 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. Disruptive persons will be asked to leave the meeting
        room. The presiding officer may terminate public comments that are profane, vulgar,
        defamatory, or disruptive.

    •   Speakers may not address confidential student or personnel matters but may submit such
        concerns to the Superintendent in writing.


    Special Circumstances


    •   At the Board's discretion, the comment period may be extended for a specified amount of
        time or a specific number of additional 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 additional resources for those interested in the
subject matter of the policy.

Note: To access the policy references, CLICK HERE: State of Georgia Terms and Conditions 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 time per session.




State                                         Description
O.C.G.A. 16-11-0034                           Preventing or disrupting a meeting of General Assembly
                                              or other meetings 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 meeting of local boards; adjournment;
                                              temporary presiding officer; notice of date; template for
                                              financial review; open meetings

O.C.G.A. 50-14-0001                           Open Meetings Act; notice; minutes; telecommunication
                                              conferences

Federal                                       Description
USC 1st Amendment                             First Amendment, U.S. Constitution