COMMUNITY RELATIONS 1220

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

The Manchester Board of Education welcomes a dialogue with interested individuals and groups from within the school district. So that this dialogue may take place efficiently and effectively, in accordance with the law, and to fairly apportion limited meeting time, the Board will implement the following procedures in conducting public hearings:

Comments and questions at a regular board meeting may deal with any topic related to the Manchester Public Schools, except as provided below. The Board chairperson shall be responsible for recognizing speakers, maintaining order and adhering to the time limits.

1. Statements regarding confidential information and matters appropriate to executive sessions are not appropriate for public discussion. These matters include, but may not be limited to, personnel matters, confidential matters, discussion of strategy and negotiations for pending claims and litigation, discussion of security personnel, discussion of real estate acquisitions prior to purchase, and discussion of matters that might otherwise result in the disclosure of confidential records or the information contained therein. The Board will make reasonable efforts to see that statements on these issues are not made in public, and reserves the right to take reasonable steps should a speaker violate this provision.

2) Two periods of time shall be reserved at every regular meeting of the Board for public comments. During the first public comment session, any item that reasonably would come before the Board of Education may be commented upon by members of the public. During the second public comment period, which will be scheduled at the end of the meeting, comments will be limited to those items discussed or voted upon by the Board of Education at the present meeting.

3. There will be a three (3) minute limitation on each presentation, except where the Board chairperson in his/her discretion, rules that additional time is in order.

4. Speakers will be recognized on a first-come, first-serve basis, as determined by the chair. Speakers will be requested to give their names and addresses.

5. If there appear to be more than twenty (20) speakers, the following procedures will be followed:

a) The name and address of each speaker will be recorded before such person may speak.

b) Persons will speak in the order in which they sign up.

c) The chair may conclude or reschedule a public comment session when, in his/her judgment, the effective and efficient conduct of the meeting would be hampered by continuing.

6. Public input, if appropriate for Board action, will be acted upon no sooner than the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Adopted: August 30, 1993