BCBI, BCBI-R - Public Participation

BCBI - Public Participation

The general public shall be invited to participate in all board meetings, except executive sessions.

Approved: June 22, 1993

BCBI-R - Public Participation

Any patrons wishing to speak to the board shall notify the superintendent five days prior to the meeting and state the reason(s) for the request. The superintendent shall determine whether said request can be solved by the staff without appearance of the patron before the board. If not, the superintendent shall place the patron’s request on the agenda of the next regular board meeting.

At each meeting of the board, the president or the presiding officer of the board shall welcome all visitors to the board meeting.

The board president may, at his or her discretion, ask those patrons attending the board meeting if any of them have something to bring to the attention of the board. The board president may impose a limit on the amount of time a visitor may have to address the board. The board president may ask groups with the same special interest to appoint a spokesperson.

If it appears that the matter which the visitor wished the board to consider will consume an amount of time the board feels cannot be spared at said meeting, the board shall invite such visitor to return at a regular or special meeting.

Handling of Complaints by Board Members

  Individuals or groups often confront a single board member with issues that should be handled by a school administrator. In those cases of apparent exception, it is suggested that the board member withhold commitment and/or opinion until he/she has had the benefit of hearing the issue discussed by the board where all aspects of the problem are aired. A board member should not obligate other members of the board by predicting how they will vote.

In carrying out the policy for handling complaints, the board will observe the following procedure: Neither the board as a whole nor any member will entertain or consider communications or complaints from parents or patrons until such communications or complaints have first been referred to the superintendent. Only in those cases where satisfactory adjustment cannot be made by the superintendent or appropriate administrator shall communications and complaints be referred to the board. After hearing evidence submitted by the superintendent in such event, the board may grant a hearing to the parties interested. Such a hearing will be initiated during regular session of the board.

Handling of Grievance by Board Members

Since grievance procedures are outlined in the policy/rule book (GAE) and this procedure is available to all employees of USD 253, neither the board as a whole nor any member will entertain a grievance unless such written grievance has been submitted and processed in accordance with the steps outlined in the grievance procedure. Complaints from employees should be handled administratively until such time as the complaint is filed as a grievance.

Approved: June 22, 1993