FILE:  BCBI

Cf:  BCAD, BCBD, BCBK

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

The West Feliciana Parish School Board desires to be cognizant of the problems, requests, complaints, and suggestions of members of the community.  One of the mechanisms to achieve this is public participation in School Board meetings, which will be permitted as follows.

The order of business at School Board meetings will include time for comments by the public.  Generally, each person wishing to address the School Board will be afforded the floor once during each public discussion period for a reasonable length of time.  All pertinent questions will be answered verbally or in writing at a later time by the chairman or an appropriate member of the administration.  There will be no dialogue between School Board members and the public at School Board meetings except to clarify the nature of questions or comments.  However, the School Board reserves the right to recess into or call executive sessions for discussing private matters as allowed by law.  At no time will actions be taken or resolutions made during executive session.

The West Feliciana Parish School Board desires citizens of the district to attend its sessions so that they may become better acquainted with the schools and so that the School Board may have the opportunity to hear the wishes and ideas of the public.

To permit community members to be heard, and at the same time to conduct its meetings properly and efficiently, the School Board establishes the following procedures for persons wishing to speak before the School Board:

1. Agenda will be posted on Thursday at the School Board Office.
   
   

2. The person wishing to address the School Board may obtain proper paperwork from the School Board Office, complete the forms, and return them to the Superintendent's office before closing on Monday.  The required information must include the agenda item on to be commented on.
   
   

3. A person is not entitled to take up business before the School Board unless the item in which he is interested has been placed on the agenda of the meeting.
   
   

4. The individual will be allowed three (3) minutes for his/her comments.
   
   

5. Speakers may offer objective criticism of school operations and programs, but the School Board will not hear complaints about school personnel or other persons at a public session.  Other channels provide for School Board consideration of complaints involving individuals.

In the event that the School Board should add an item to its agenda after the School Board meeting begins, the School Board President shall orally request of the audience whether anyone in attendance would like to speak on the added agenda item.  Each person indicating a desire to do so shall be given an opportunity to address the School Board on each agenda item added.  The School Board shall delay deliberations on that agenda item until such time as all interested members of the public have had an opportunity to speak.

The West Feliciana School Board vests in its president or other presiding officer authority to terminate the remarks of any individual who does not adhere to the above rules.  Persons appearing before the School Board are reminded that although requests may be directed to the School Board, action (and the answers to many questions) must be deferred pending School Board consideration.

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

REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH DISABILITIES

The School Board shall allow any member of the public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or a designated caregiver of such a person, to participate in its meetings via teleconference or video conference, and shall facilitate participation by any such person who requests that accommodation prior to the meeting.  Members of the public who desire to participate in this fashion shall certify that they meet the definition of a person with a disability recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act when they submit, prior to public meetings, their requests to comment on agenda items and shall comply with the same rules and regulations on speaking applicable to those participating in person at such meetings.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 42:14, 42:15, 42:16, 42:23

Board minutes 9-9-97, 10-24-00, 10-28-08, 9-19-23

West Feliciana Parish School Board