0167.3 - PUBLIC COMMENT AT BOARD MEETINGS

The Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on District matters.

Agenda Item

Any person or group who would like to have an item put on the agenda shall submit their request to the District Administrator no later than seven (7) business days prior to the meeting and include:

1. name and address of the participant;
2. group affiliation, if and when appropriate;
3. topic to be addressed.

Such requests shall be subject to the recommendation of the District Administrator and the approval of the Board President.

Public Comment Section of the Meeting

To permit fair and orderly public expression, the Board may provide a period for public comment at any regular meeting of the Board and publish rules to govern such comment in Board meetings.

The presiding officer of each Board meeting at which public comment is permitted shall administer the rules of the Board for its conduct.

The presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules:

1. Public comment shall be permitted as indicated on the order of business and/or at the discretion of the presiding officer.
2. Anyone having a legitimate interest in the actions of the Board may comment during the public portion of a meeting.
3. Attendees must register their intention to comment in the public portion of the meeting upon their arrival at the meeting.
4. Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and will be requested to preface their comments by an announcement of their name; address; and/or group affiliation, if and when appropriate.
5. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to five (5) minutes duration.
6. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic unless all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
7. Participants shall direct all comments to the Board and not to staff or other participants.
8. Participants shall address only topics within the legitimate jurisdiction of the Board.
9. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no person may address or question Board members individually.
10. The presiding officer may:
     
    1. interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant's statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, or irrelevant;
    2. request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum;
    3. request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person's conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting;
    4. call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum so interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting as to warrant such action.
11. Signage, banners, or other material which impedes any person's view of the proceedings, including a Board member's view, shall be relocated so as not to obstruct views.

Recording, filming, or photographing the Board’s open meetings by Third Parties is permitted pursuant to 19.90, Wis. Stat. Recording, filming, or photographing the Board’s closed session is only permitted pursuant to Bylaw 0167.2 – Closed Session. The person operating the equipment should contact the District Administrator prior to the Board meeting to review the possible placement of the equipment, and must agree to abide by the following conditions:
 

1. No obstructions are created between the Board and the audience.
    
2. No interviews are conducted in the meeting room while the Board is in session.
3. No commentary, adjustment of equipment, or positioning of operators is made that would distract either the Board or members of the audience or otherwise disrupt the meeting while the Board is in session.

Revised 3/1/21
Revised 1/17/22
T.C. 10/16/23

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