BCBI Clean Copy 1.28.2025

                                                                                    Board Policy Manual
                                                                            DeKalb County School District

 Board Policy BCBI:                                                   Original Adopted Date: 04/01/2003
 Public Participation in Board Meetings                                   Last Reviewed Date: 1/28/2025

 Status: DRAFT                                                                 Last Revised Date: Pending

Clean Version

The DeKalb County Board of Education encourages the public to be involved in public education.
To facilitate public input, the Board will hold a monthly Community Input Session in accordance with
the procedures below. The purpose of the session is to allow speakers to comment on issues relevant to
the Board or the DeKalb County School District.

Eligibility and Sign Up
     - Before addressing the Board, individuals are encouraged to seek solutions to their concerns by
          following proper staff and administrative channels.
     - The opportunity to provide public comment is limited to district stakeholders, including parents,
          students, residents, employees, businesses, organizations, and individuals who either reside or
          conduct business within the district’s geographic boundaries.
     - Individuals wishing to speak must submit a request in writing to the Board Office via letter, fax,
          email, or comment card. Requests must 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.
     - Request to Comment cards will be available at the Board Office on the day of the meeting. Cards
          must be completely filled out, providing the information listed above.
     - 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 12 p.m. of the meeting day.
     - 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 Input Session 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 limited to 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 Input Session is designed to gather input from the public and is not intended for
        immediate responses by the Board. While the Board cannot guarantee each speaker a specific or
        individualized response, the Board will consider the public comments and any supporting
        materials provided by speakers.

Speaker Etiquette
   - Speakers may speak critically of school operations and programs. However, the Board requests
       that these views be expressed in a civil and respectful manner.
   - Speakers are specifically prohibited from:
            o Discussing confidential student or personnel matters.
            o Using obscene, defamatory, or threatening language.
   - Individuals with complaints involving district staff are encouraged to submit those concerns to
       the Superintendent in writing.
   - Also prohibited are comments, jeers, applause, or shouts from the audience.
   - To maintain order, disruptive individuals may be asked to leave the meeting room.
   - Additional guidance for speakers can be found in regulation xxx.

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.

References

State
    -   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
   - USC 1st Amendment          First Amendment, U.S. Constitution