1120 1120Community Relations
Public Participation at Board of Education Meetings
Regular and special meetings of the Board of Education are open to the public and representatives of the press except that a part of any meeting may be designated an executive session as provided by law.
The Board of Education welcomes participation of interested organizations and individuals. The Board desires citizens of the district to attend to become better acquainted with the operations and programs of the district, and so that the Board may have the opportunity to hear the wishes and ideas of the public. The Board strives to give all citizens of the district an opportunity to be heard and to have complaints considered and evaluated, within the limits of the law, this policy, and subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.
Advance announcement of all regular and special meetings of the Board of Education is through posting the agenda, notices to newspapers, and directly to citizens and community and professional organizations that specifically request such notification. A reasonable charge may be made for those persons or organizations requesting advance announcements of meetings and agenda backup materials.
Board meetings are meetings held in public but are not public meetings. Once the Board moves into its regular agenda, the public may participate only as allowed by the Chairperson as follows:
1. Prior to any public participation, Board members wishing to speak shall be provided full opportunities for comment and Board discussion.
2. Members of the public will be recognized only after Board discussion is complete.
3. Public comments and/or questions during the meeting are allowed on specified or non-specified items as determined by the Chairperson of the Board. Public comment will be confined to that portion of the agenda reserved for petitions and comments and is subject to Board approval.
4. If requested by the Chairperson, any individual recognized by the Chairperson to speak shall give his/her name, address, the group, if any, that is being represented, and the subject to be discussed.
5. Individual speakers shall be limited to two (2) minutes unless an extension of time is granted by the Chairperson in his/her discretion with support, information, or guidance by the Superintendent as appropriate. The Chairperson may reduce the allotted time if a large number of persons wish to address the Board.
6. If a group or organization wishes to address the Board on a topic, the Chairperson reserves the right in his/her discretion to require designation of one or more representatives or spokespersons to speak on behalf of the group or organization.
7. The portion of the meeting that the participation of the public is invited to speak shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes unless an extension of time is granted by the Chairperson in his/her discretion with support, information, or guidance by the Superintendent as appropriate.
8. Individual questions and comments shall be directed to the Board Chairperson and public questions and/or comments may be restricted or curtailed by the Board Chairperson at any time.
9. The Chairperson may, at his/her discretion, answer a question from a member of the public or direct it to a Board committee, a specific Board member, or the Superintendent of Schools.
10. When a member of the public requests particular information that currently exists, either in Board files or the Superintendent's files, it will be provided as soon as practical following the meeting in accordance with requirements of Freedom of Information statutes. However, neither the Board of Education nor Superintendent shall undertake any project or any research necessary to develop a response to questions or requests unless it is placed on a subsequent Board agenda and approved by a majority of the Board of Education.
11. When controversial issues or items of high public interest are pending, additional opportunities for public comment may occur. The Board of Education may call for a special meeting to hear such comment.
12. The Chairperson may, at his/her discretion, curtail any and all public discussion at any time that it is inappropriate or violates any of the public participation guidelines (i.e., vile, profane, personal attacks, threats of violence, or exceeds prescribed time limitations) or otherwise violates Board policies.
If a Board of Education meeting is interrupted by any person or group of persons whose behavior impedes the orderly conduct of such meeting, those engaging in such conduct may be directed to leave the meeting. If order cannot be restored by removing those who are willfully interrupting the meeting, the Chairperson of the Board of Education shall order the meeting room cleared and continue in session. Media representatives, unless they were disorderly, shall be permitted to attend the sessions held in this manner. Only regular items on the agenda may be considered in such case. The Chairperson, if necessary, may request assistance from local law enforcement personnel to enforce this policy.
Citizens may appear before the Board to express an opinion concerning the educational program of the district. The public is advised that any discussion of specific Board employees or any person connected with the school system, including students, will not be allowed at meetings and should instead be addressed to that employee's immediate supervisor and/or the Superintendent of Schools. Speakers will not be permitted to participate in gossip, make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. The Board agenda provides opportunities for comments and questions from persons attending the meeting.
Board Relations with Community Organizations
The Board of Education shall cooperate as appropriate with town officials, Boards, committees, or other agencies of the town, and with organized groups of interested citizens of the town. Any such individual or group requesting a meeting with the Board of Education should present its request to the Chairperson of the Board, or the Superintendent, in ample time to allow for proper preparation of agenda items, notification of Board members, and establishment of a mutually agreeable meeting time and place.
Recording, Broadcasting, or Photographing Meetings
The media may record, photograph, broadcast, or record for broadcast by persons, newspapers, radio, and television stations. Such recording, photographing, broadcasting, or recording for broadcasting by persons, newspapers, radio, and television stations shall be done as inconspicuously as possible and, in such manner, as not to disturb the Board of Education meeting.
(cf. 1312 Public Complaints)
Legal References: Connecticut General Statutes
1-225 Meetings of government agents to be public. Recording of votes. Schedule and agenda of meetings to be filed. Notice of special meetings. Executive sessions.
1-226 Broadcasting or photographing meetings.
19a-342 Smoking in public meetings in rooms of public building prohibited. 1-227 Mailing of notice of meetings to persons filing written request. Fees.
1-230 Regular meetings to be held pursuant to regulation, ordinance or resolution. 1-232 Conduct of meetings.
1-205 Denial of access to public records or meetings.
10-238 Petition for hearing by the board of education.
Policy Adopted: 6/8/09
Policy Revised: 11/15/21