MSAD 9 POLICY MANUAL
File: BEDH
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS
Regular, special and emergency meetings of the school board are open to the public. This board, as an elected representative body of the school unit, wishes to provide opportunity for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the matters under consideration by the board. The public is cordially invited to attend and participate as set forth in this policy.
Board meetings are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the official business of the school system. The meetings are not public forum meetings (as are town meetings), but are meetings which are held for the board to do its business in public. The minutes of each public meeting will record the action taken and will show how the board voted on each item presented for action. The journal of minutes is open and available to the public during normal business hours in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.
Orderly conduct of a meeting does not permit spontaneous discussion from the audience nor among board members. Individuals or organizations desiring to make requests, presentations or proposals on matters before the board will be provided that opportunity.
Generally, public participation shall be limited to time periods just prior to board discussion of the agenda items upon which citizens wish to comment.
The intent of this policy is to allow a fair and adequate opportunity for the public to be heard, to provide adequate time for the board to obtain necessary information on a subject before it, and to see that time allowed for open discussion does not interfere with the fulfillment of the scheduled agenda of the board.
In order that the board may fairly and adequately discharge its overall responsibility, a member of the public wishing to address the board on a specific topic not otherwise on the agenda must submit such a request in writing to the superintendent at least one full week in advance of the scheduled meeting. The superintendent and/or board chair may add the item to the agenda at their discretion, or the chair may waive this requirement.
An agenda shall be published in advance of each meeting in accordance with board policy. Copies are to be posted, or available for at least three weekdays prior to regular meetings, at the superintendent's office and in each school, town hall, the public library or other appropriate public facilities. Anyone desiring additional information about any item on the agenda should direct such inquiries to the Office of the Superintendent.
Page 1 of 2
MSAD No. 9
File: BEDH
Legal Reference: TITLE 1 MRSA SEC. 401 ET SEQ.__FREEDOM OF ACCESS
Cross Reference: BEC _ EXECUTIVE SESSION
BEDA _ NOTIFICATION OF BOARD MEETINGS
BEDB _ AGENDA
BEDC _ QUORUM
BEDD _ RULES OF ORDER
BEDG _ MINUTES
Adopted: January 25, 1994