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Board meetings are business meetings conducted in public, not public meetings. To hear the viewpoints of citizens, as well as conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner, the Board provides public comment periods during its meetings. To allow for public participation, a maximum of 15 minutes will be set aside toward the beginning of regular business meetings for brief comments from the public on agenda items only. Additionally, another maximum of 30 minutes at the end of the meetings will be set aside for brief comments from the public on other school matters. The board does not engage in dialogue with the community during these meetings. A public comment period may be extended by a majority vote of the Board.

Comments should be as brief as possible. No speaker will be permitted to speak for longer than 3 minutes. Speakers may comment on any agenda item in the first public comment section and any matter related to District business during the second comment section.

The Board will not permit, in public session, discussion involving individual District personnel or students. Persons wishing to discuss matters involving individual District personnel or students should present their comments and/or concerns to the Superintendent during regular business hours.

All speakers shall conduct themselves in a civil manner. Obscene language, libelous statements, threats of violence, statements advocating racial, religious, or other forms of prejudice will not be tolerated and their right to speak may be forfeited.   

Persons wishing to speak must sign up in-person on the appropriate sign-up sheet immediately prior to the meeting. When signing up a speaker must provide their full name, address and email and if applicable the organization they represent. The Board President is responsible for recognizing all speakers, who will properly identify themselves; for maintaining proper order; and for adhering to any time limits set.  Persons making comments at a Board meeting will address remarks to the Board. The President shall have the right to discontinue any public comment which violates this policy. 

Comments from the public concerning matters which are not on the agenda may be taken under consideration and referred to the Superintendent. 

This policy is subject to change in the event that virtual meetings are authorized by the state. 

Cross Ref:  

1235, Civility and Decorum 

Ref:   

Matter of Martin, 32 EDR 381 (1992)

Appeal of Wittenben, 31 EDR 375 (1992)

Matter of Kramer, 72 EDR 114 (1951)

NYS Department of State, Committee on Open Government, 

OML-AO-#2696 (Jan. 8, 1997) and OML-AO-#2717 (Feb. 27, 1997)

Adoption date: December 1, 1995

Amended date: October 20, 2008

Amended date: November 23, 2015

Amended date: January 9, 2017

Amended date: September 13, 2021