02. Public Comment (General Matters)

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The board of education, as an elected representative body of the school system, wishes to provide a forum for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the school system.  In order that the board may conduct an orderly meeting while providing an opportunity for input, individuals or groups may be heard by the board in accordance with policy 2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings, or policy 2300, Board Meetings (subsection D.2).  
  • Each month, the first part of at least one regularly scheduled board meeting will be set aside for citizens to address the board through public comment. 
  • A sign-up sheet will be available 30 minutes before the meeting begins for any individual or group to indicate their desire to address the board. 
  • Each speaker will receive 3 minutes to present comments.  The public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total except by majority vote of the board.
  • The board chair will recognize speakers in the order in which they signed in.  Substitute speakers will not be permitted and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker.  If a speaker is unable to present all of his or her information within the specified time limit, the speaker may provide the board with additional information in written form.  If an unusually large number of people requests to speak, a majority of the board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions.  At any time, the board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and orderly manner. 
  • Board members will not respond to individuals who address the board except to request clarification of points made by the presenter.
  • Issues involving individual personnel or student matters are confidential and, therefore, are not appropriate for the public comment session.  Concerns related to personnel or student matters should be handled as a complaint and reported to the superintendent or designee.
  • Except in cases of emergency, information received during presentations will not be acted upon at the time it is received.  It will take unanimous vote of the board members present to act on a presentation considered to be of an unusual or emergency nature at the time it is presented.
  • Disruptions by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.17. 
  • No solicitations will be allowed during public comment.
  • The board may choose to offer a second opportunity for public comment at the end of the meeting.  Sign-ups will not be required for the second public comment opportunity.
  • If the board does not hold a regular meeting during a month, the board will not provide a time for public comment at any other meeting held during that month, unless a majority of the board votes to allow public comment at the meeting or unless the purpose of the meeting is a public hearing.
 
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