Wilkes County Board of Education meetings are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the official business of the school district. The public is cordially invited to attend board meetings to observe the Board of Education as it conducts its official business.
The Board of Education, as an elected representative body of the school district, also wishes to provide a forum for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the school district. However, the Board recognizes its responsibility to conduct the business of the school system in an orderly and efficient manner and will therefore require reasonable controls to regulate public presentations to the Board. To provide an opportunity for input while conducting an orderly meeting, individuals or groups may be heard by the board in accordance with this policy or policy 2300, section D, paragraph 2, which addresses public hearings.
Requests to Place Item on the Agenda
In order that the Board of Education may fairly and adequately discharge its overall responsibility, citizens desiring an item to be placed on the agenda for a specific board meeting should direct written requests to the superintendent at least seven working days prior to the meeting.
The request should include:
- the name and address of the person or persons making the request;
- the organization or group, if any, represented;
- a brief explanation of the nature of the item;
- the approximate amount of meeting time required; and
- a spokesperson’s name, if the request concerns a delegation.
Questions and/or materials to be presented to the board are to be submitted along with the request. Additional items may be added to the agenda by the board on a two-thirds vote of the board members.
The superintendent will confer with the chairperson of the Board of Education concerning whether to approve placing the requested item on the agenda and to determine the appropriate meeting for such discussion.
The superintendent, with the consent of the Board of Education chairperson, will accept or deny a request for inclusion on the agenda for any reason determined appropriate by the superintendent and chairperson.
The superintendent will explain any other processes available for addressing the concerns. (See section below, Reports of Complaints.)
The superintendent will notify the requesting party of the response to the request at least five days before the next meeting. The board may, by majority vote and notwithstanding prior denial by the superintendent, consent to hear a presentation where the appeal to speak is made immediately prior to or during the course of the meeting.
The chairperson will establish the amount of time for individual or group presentations.
Requests to Address the Board
A part of each meeting will be set aside for citizens to address the board; such time will be included on the planned agenda prior to consideration of the business items. A sign-up sheet will be available for any individual or group to indicate his/her desire to address the Board of Education. The chairperson will decide the time devoted to public comments.
Board of Education members will not respond to individuals who address the Board except to request clarification of points made by the presenter.
Except in cases of emergency, information received during presentations will not be acted upon at the time it is received. It will take a unanimous vote of the board members present to take action on a presentation considered to be of an unusual or emergency nature at the time it is presented.
Disruptions by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.7.
Reports of Complaints
Complaints about the performance of school personnel, implementation of board policy, the quality of the educational program, or school facilities should be submitted initially for a response to the school district official responsible for the program or facility or to the superintendent. The superintendent or designee will make available this board policy and other relevant grievance procedures to any individual or group submitting a complaint.
Legal References: G.S. 143-318.10, 115C-36
Cross References: Student and Parent Grievance Procedure (policy 1740/4010), Role of Board Members in Handling Complaints (policy 2122), Board Meetings (policy 2300), Board Meeting Agenda (policy 2330), Responding to Complaints (policy 1742/5060)
Adopted: January 9, 2006