BDDH (also KD)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS

The Board desires citizens of the district to attend its sessions so that they may become better acquainted with the operation and programs of the schools and that the Board may have opportunity to hear the wishes and ideas of the public. All official meetings of the Board shall be opened to the press and public. However, the Board reserves the right to meet and to adjourn or recess a meeting at any time to discuss such matters as are properly considered in non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3.

In order to assure that persons who wish to appear before the Board may be heard and, at the same time, conduct its meetings properly and efficiently, the Board adopts as policy the following procedures and rules pertaining to public participation at Board meetings.

1. Anyone wishing to speak before the Board, either as an individual or as a member of a group, should inform the Superintendent of the desire to do so and of the topic to be discussed as early as possible, by the least seven days before the meeting. The inclusion of such requests to be on the agenda shall be at the sole discretion of the Superintendent.

2. Any individual desiring to speak shall give his or her name, address, and the group, if any, that is represented.

3. The presentation should be as brief possible. Written remarks are encouraged. In no event should more than 15 minutes be set aside for public participation.

4. Speakers may offer such objective criticisms of school operations and programs as concern them. But in a public session, the Board will not hear personal complaints of school personnel nor against any person connected with the school system. Other channels are provided for Board consideration and disposition of legitimate complaints involving individuals.

The Board vests in its Chair or other presiding officer authority to terminate the remarks of any individual, when he/she does not adhere to the rules established above as to content or time limitation.

Persons appearing before the Board are reminded, as a point of information, that members of the Board are without authority to act independently as individuals in official matters. Thus, questions may be directed to individual Board members, but answers must be deferred pending consideration by the full Board.

Adoption Date: April 8, 1993