B-2150   ©   BEDH
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS

All regular and special meetings of the Board shall be open to the public.

The Board invites the viewpoints of citizens throughout the District, and considers the responsible presentation of these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the District.  The Board also recognizes its responsibility for the proper governance of the schools and therefore the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner.  The Board therefore establishes the following procedures to receive input from citizens of the District:

•   Public input comments will be heard in the first thirty (30) minutes of Regular and/or Finance meetings.

•   Any individual desiring to address the Board shall complete a form (Request to Address Board) and submit this form to the Board Secretary immediately prior to the start of Regular and/or Finance Board meetings or submit it to Central Office during the week prior to the meeting.  On-site Requests to Address the Board must be submitted no later than five (5) minutes prior to the beginning of the Regular and/or Finance meeting and must pertain to published agenda items for that meeting.  If the Board Secretary is absent from the meeting, the submissions will be managed by the Board President.

•   The Board Secretary may compile multiple submissions on a single topic that may constitute a group concern and request a spokesperson be selected for the group.  In the event that a group submission is composed, the Board will take a tally of the number of attendants present to support the question or concern, which will be recorded in the Board minutes.

•   The Board President shall be responsible for recognizing speakers, maintaining proper order, and adhering to a time limit of thirty (30) minutes unless altered by Board action.  Comments will be limited to three (3) minutes per individual speaker and five (5) minutes for each group spokesperson.  In order to ensure that each individual has an opportunity to address the Board, the President may also set a lesser time limit for individual speakers based upon the length of the comment period and number of requests received.

•   Questions of fact asked by the public shall, when appropriate, be answered by the President or referred to the Superintendent for reply.  No action or discussion shall transpire among Board members regarding such questions or comments.  Questions requiring investigation shall be referred to the Superintendent for later report to the Board.  Questions or comments on matters that are currently under legal review will not receive a response.

•   Members of the public or invited guests may be recognized by the President to assist the Board with information for the conduct of its official business.

•   Personal attacks upon Board members, staff personnel, or other persons in attendance or absent by individuals who address the Board are discouraged.  Presenters are cautioned that statements or representations concerning others that convey an unjustly unfavorable impression may subject the presenter to civil action for defamation.  Policies KE, KEB, KEC, and KED are provided by the Board for disposition of legitimate complaints, including those involving individuals.

Adopted:   May 30, 2017

LEGAL REF.:
10-15-1 NMSA

CROSS REF.:
BDB - Board Officers
BHC - Board Communications with Staff Member
BHD - Board Communications with the Public
KEB - Public Concerns/Complaints about Personnel