2023-2024 Meetings –
PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS:
Board meetings are generally a time for the Board to hear from the Principal, other senior administration representatives, and those who are scheduled to make presentations on selected topics. Colorado law prohibits the Board from discussing public business other than during public meetings or executive sessions (see below). Therefore, these public sessions are working sessions of the Board that are intended to provide interaction between Board members and administration in an effort to reach decisions on a wide variety of issues. With rare exception, these meetings are not the best place for initial discussion to take place. New initiatives or proposals should typically be discussed first with administration and a formal proposal prepared for presentation at a time when the item can be scheduled on the agenda. Nevertheless, there are times when the Board is discussing a proposal that certain individuals attending the meeting can provide valuable insight, expertise and perspective to assist the Board in making wise and well-informed decisions. Generally, those involved in bringing forth an idea, and those most active in the process of researching and presenting a proposal, will be the ones most likely to be called upon for input during the Board’s discussion. In addition, senior administration officials and representatives from other active task forces will be relied upon for their perspective concerning a particular proposal and the impact it will have on various constituencies.
OPEN FORUM/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
All regular and special meetings of the Board shall be open to the public. The Board welcomes and appreciates comments on school operations and programs within the school. Open forum time shall be scheduled during board meetings, except at work sessions, for brief comments and questions from the public. A sign-up sheet will be available for individuals at the beginning of the school board meeting. The Board shall limit the length of public participation to thirty minutes and a time limit for individual speakers of three minutes unless otherwise noted.
Members of the public wishing to make formal presentations before the Board must notify the Board Secretary fourteen days prior to the Board meeting date and receive approval from the Board president.
During open forum, comments and questions at a regular meeting may deal with any topic related to the Board’s conduct of the schools. Comments at special meetings are limited to topics on the agenda.
Speakers are asked to make comments in a respectful and orderly manner. Personal complaints against any individuals connected with the school system are prohibited. Open meeting forum is not a time to discuss students, staff, or parents by name. Members of the public who are disruptive or distracting will be asked to leave.
People can say hard things, and can disagree strongly with each other, and can express themselves strongly, but they cannot use cuss words or scream or cross the line of civilized communications. Please model the behavior we teach our children and “act as if your children were here listening.”
The School cannot and will not divulge information about personnel matters or discuss its thinking or communications into personnel matters. The board will not discuss ongoing, past or potentially future legal matters or personnel issues.
Printed materials may be provided to the Board. Signs and banners are not allowed in the board meeting room during meetings.
The Board president shall be responsible for recognizing all speakers, maintaining proper order and adherence to time limits. Follow-up action items may be assigned to the appropriate personnel depending on the nature of the comments. Please note that board members do not respond or ask questions during public comment. Members of the public will not be recognized by the president during Board meetings except as noted in this policy.
In addition to public participation time during Board meetings, the Board is committed to engaging members of the community on an ongoing basis regarding community values about education. The public may contact the Board of Directors by, letter or via email through the school website at any time.
OTHER VENUES FOR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS:
New ideas and suggestions are often best handled by contacting the administration. In addition, there are a number of other venues where interested individuals are encouraged to bring forth ideas and suggestions. These include, but are not limited to, Student Character Council; Parents Teachers Organizations (PTOs), Town Hall Meetings, Principal’s Coffees, regularly scheduled parent meetings, and various Task Forces. Proposals which are brought forth through groups such as these, in close cooperation with the administration, are typically organized in a manner that make them easier for the Board to properly consider them and make well-informed decisions.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS:
While the law requires that most Board meetings be open to the public, the Board may meet in a private, “executive” session to consider the following types of matters: (i) purchase or sale of real estate; (ii) conferences with an attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice; (iii) matters required to be kept confidential by federal or state laws or regulations; (iv) specialized details of security arrangements or investigations; (v) determination of positions relative to contract negotiations; (vi) personnel matters; (vii) consideration of documents protected by the Open Records Act; and (viii) discussion of most individual student matters.