The board recognizes the importance of citizen participation in school district matters. In order to assure citizens are heard and board meetings are conducted efficiently and in an organization manner, the board has specific procedures outlined for public participation.
Citizens who have a place on the agenda may address the board on the issue of their concern during the discussion of that issue. The presiding officer will recognize these individuals when the item of their concern is addressed during the meeting.
Individuals or groups who wish to place an item on the agenda should:
- Contact the superintendent or board president no later than six calendar days prior to the meeting. Each individual will be limited to two (2 minutes); a group will be limited to ten (10 minutes) to address the board with their comments; or,
- Submit a valid petition to the board: For a petition to be valid, it must be signed by at least 500 eligible electors of the district, or ten percent of the individuals who voted in the last school election, whichever number is lower. Upon receiving a valid petition to the board to place a proposal on the next board agenda for public hearing, the board will place the proposal identified in the petition on the agenda of the next regular meeting, or a special meeting held within 30 days of receipt of the petition. The board will provide a sign-up sheet for all individuals who wish to speak on the proposal, and individuals will be called to speak in order of sign-up. The sign-up sheet will require each individual to list their legal name and mailing address. Each speaker will be limited to an amount of time established by the board president that is reasonable and necessary based on the number of speakers signed up. The same time limit will apply to all speakers on the proposal. Each individual will be limited to one opportunity to speak. The board maintains absolute discretion on whether or not to discuss or act on the public comments made on the proposal. If a petition is related to curriculum, the district maintains discretion to determine whether to stop teaching that curriculum until the board holds the public hearing to discuss the curriculum.
Meetings of the Board of Directors, Forest City Community Schools, follow an agenda prepared by the Superintendent.
Citizens who do not have a place on the agenda may address the board on the issue of their concern by requesting to speak to the board regarding an agenda item. The presiding officer will recognize the individuals at the appropriate time. A visitor who has been granted permission to speak will have two (2) minutes to express his/her viewpoint, or ask a question. It shall be pointed out that there is no legal requirement that the public be given this opportunity to speak at board meetings. It is the policy of this board to make this time available to residents of the district, but if the pressure of business or other circumstances dictate, the Board President may decide to curtail discussion.
The board has a significant interest in maintaining the decorum of its meetings, and it is expected that members of the public
and the board will address each other with civility. The orderly process of the board meeting will not be interfered with or
disrupted by public comment. Only individuals recognized by the board president will be allowed to speak. Comments by others are out of order. If disruptive, the individual causing disruption may be asked to leave the board meeting. Defamatory comments may be subject to legal action.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 21; 22; 279.8
Cross Reference:
205 Board Member Liability
210.8 Board Meeting Agenda
214 Public Hearings
307 Communication Channels
401.4 Employee Complaints
402.5 Public Complaints About Employees
502.4 Student Complaints and Grievances
Approved: 4-14-86
Reviewed: 2-14-22
Revised: 8-9-21
