BEDH
PUBLIC COMMENT
All regular and special meetings of the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee shall be open to the public and such meetings are posted at least 48 hours in advance on the District website to provide the public with a list of topics to be discussed.
The Committee encourages the public to present their ideas and concerns.
Speakers may offer such objective criticisms of the school operations and programs as concern them. Under most circumstances if the speaker wishes to lodge a complaint against school personnel administrative channels are the proper means for disposition of legitimate complaints involving staff members.
Most School Committee meetings are considered business meetings. Items of particular importance, such as budget development, offer opportunities at scheduled public hearings for public comment.
In order that all citizens who wish to be heard before the Committee have a chance and to ensure the ability of the Committee to conduct the District's business in an orderly manner, the following rules and procedures are adopted:
Prior to the Call to Order of each regularly scheduled School Committee meeting, individuals or group representatives who wish to address an agenda item shall sign in with the recording secretary and will be invited to address the Committee either under Agenda Item II Public Comments or other appropriate agenda item.
Speakers will be allowed two (2) minutes to present their material. The presiding Chair may permit extension of this time limit.
Individuals may address topics on the agenda, items specified for public comment, or items within the scope of responsibility of the School Committee. The Chair shall rule out of order any individual who fails to honor the guidelines or who addresses a matter inappropriate for public comment.
All remarks will be addressed through the Chair of the meeting.
Written comments longer than two (2) minutes may be presented to the Committee before or after the meeting for the Committee members' review and consideration at an appropriate time.
Any citizen who wishes to make a presentation to the School Committee on an item which is of interest to them and within the scope of the Committee's responsibilities but is not listed as an agenda item at a regularly scheduled or special meeting may request to be placed on the agenda for a particular meeting. Such request should be in writing and should be received by the Superintendent of Schools at least one week prior to the date of the meeting. Such request should contain background statements which would explain the scope and intent of the agenda item. The Chair of the Committee works with the Superintendent to formulate the meeting agendas. Together they will determine whether or not to place an item on the agenda and if the item is to be taken up they will also determine when to place an item on the agenda and all parameters to be required of the presenter.
SOURCE: MASC
LEGAL REF: MGL 30A:20g
CROSS REF: BHD Correspondence: School Committee and the Public
First Reading: 3/26/19 Second Reading: 4/23/19 Adopted: 5/14/19. Revised & Readopted: 3/23/21