FILE:  BCBI

Cf:  BCAD, BCB

Cf:  BCBD, BCBK

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

The School Board desires all citizens of Rapides Parish to attend School Board meetings so that they may become better acquainted with the schools and in order that the School Board may have an opportunity to hear the desires and/or ideas of the public on educational issues affecting the parish.

It is the policy of the Rapides Parish School Board to conduct all meetings in full view of and with welcomed participation by the public.  However, the School Board reserves the right to recess into or call executive sessions for discussing matters as provided by state law.  During executive sessions, no action shall be taken or resolutions made.

VISITORS

All visitors shall be recognized at the beginning of each meeting. School Board members shall have the privilege to have a person in the audience recognized.  At the discretion of the President or presiding officer, persons who do not get recognized at the beginning of the meeting may be recognized at the end of the meeting after all other agenda items.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

A public comment period shall be held before any School Board vote is taken on an agenda item.  Comments from the public shall be allowed after the introduction of the item to be voted on, before any vote is taken by the School Board on the agenda item, and such comments shall be germane to the specific agenda item.  However, a person shall not be entitled to take up business before the School Board unless the item in which he/she is interested has been placed on the agenda of that meeting.  Guidelines governing public comment on agenda items shall be maintained by the Superintendent.

As the School Board reaches each item on its agenda for which a vote shall be taken, the President or presiding officer shall recognize those persons who requested to speak on that item.  No individual may speak without first being recognized by the President or the presiding officer.  Each person may speak for not more than three (3) minutes on each item and may speak only once on each agenda item.  No person may allot his/her time to speak to another person.  The President or presiding officer may extend the time.

When the individual has been called upon to speak, that individual shall approach the podium to address the School Board.  The individual shall limit his/her comments to matters that are strictly relevant to that agenda item.  The individual shall refrain from asking questions or making requests of the School Board or staff.  No defamatory comments, accusatory comments or comments relative to the performance of specific employees or potential employees shall be permitted.  The School Board shall delay its deliberations on each agenda item until all members of the public who wish to address the School Board have been given an opportunity to speak.

In the event that the School Board should add an item to its agenda for which a vote shall be taken after the School Board meeting begins or the School Board desires to consider an item upon which a vote is to be taken where no vote was originally anticipated, the President or presiding officer 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 a period not to exceed two (2) minutes to address the School Board on each agenda item added.  The School Board shall delay its deliberations on each agenda item until such time as all interested members of the public have had an opportunity to speak.

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, 3-19-02, 10-5-04, 10-21-04, 12-2-08, 12-6-16, 3-7-17, 8-1-23

Rapides Parish School Board