In order to assure that persons who wish to appear before the board may be heard and at the same time, conduct its meetings properly and efficiently, the board adopts as policy the following procedures and rules pertaining to public participating at board meetings. Ordinarily, the board shall accept comments and questions for 15 minutes immediately following the opening of the meeting and during a 10 minute period prior to adjournment.

The public participation during the first discussion period shall be limited to comments and questions pertaining to things on the agenda only. The presentation should be as brief as possible. Unless an extension of time is granted, a speaker shall be limited to 2 minutes.

Speakers may offer such objective comments and criticisms of school operations and programs as concern them. In public sessions the board will not hear personal complaints of school personnel nor against any person connected with the school system.

The procedures for airing a complaint are as follows:

A. Meet with the person(s) whom you feel you have a complaint with;

B. If after the above, a satisfactory solution is not obtained, make an appointment with the chief school administrator to discuss the problem;

C. If after attempting the steps above a satisfactory solution is not found, address a letter to the Ocean Gate Board of Education requesting an investigation of stated matter.

The board vests in the board president or other presiding officer authority to terminate the remarks of any individual when they do not adhere to the rules established above. Questions will be answered immediately whenever possible, or will be referred to staff members for reply; if necessary; questions will be investigated and answered at a later time.

Adopted: November 20, 2000
NJSBA Review/Update: January 2009, November 2017
Readopted: January 21, 2009
Reviewed:

Key Words

Board of Education Meetings, Public and Executive Sessions, Public Comments, Complaint, Public Participation

Possible
Cross References: *1120 Board of education meetings
*3570 District records and reports
*6142.10 Technology
*9121 Election and duties of president
*9271 Code of ethics
9322 Public and executive sessions
*9323/9324 Agenda preparation/advance delivery of meeting material
*9326 Minutes

*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.