Policy 8420-1

Meetings

Participation by Citizens

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board:  6/25/2024
Last Revision: 
Original publish date: 09/23/2008
Related policies & regulations:  8420, 8470
Legal references:  79-560; 79-570; 84-1407 to 84-1414

 

Public comment will be scheduled at some Lincoln Board of Education meetings. In the meeting at which public comment is not scheduled or in those in which it is scheduled, a majority of members present and voting may also choose to allow, terminate or reduce the time for public comment at any time.

 

The following will help guide the Public Comment agenda item at Board Meetings and Public Hearings:

  1. Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose.
  2. A time limit of three minutes will be allotted for any speaker unless prior to the beginning of the Public Comment agenda item, the chair sets a different reasonable timeframe to be allotted for speakers in order to accommodate the number of persons who have submitted Record of Appearance cards. The time limit is per speaker, per meeting and may not be transferred or assigned to other speakers.
  3. The chair may endeavor to organize public comment by what agenda items or other issues have been identified as topics by public speakers, adjust for the age of speakers, and/or split the Public Comment agenda item to be conducted in different positions within the Board’s Order of Business. At the discretion of the chair, the speaker may be allotted additional time. Board members may share, address or consider comments from the public during public comment, at the end of public comment or when related business is on the agenda.
  4. In order to be called forward to address the Board during Public Comment, each person wishing to speak must obtain a “Record of Appearance” card from staff at the meeting in which they wish to speak. Record of Appearance cards are available beginning 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the meeting. Those wishing to speak must accurately complete the required sections of the card and submit it to the appropriate staff member by 15 minutes after the start of the meeting.
  5. Individuals will be called forward to speak by name, organization being represented, if applicable, and address. Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment by stating their first and last name and, if applicable, any organization they represent.
  6. In cases where more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, their presentations to the Board may, at the discretion of the chair, be grouped together by topic.
  7. If the number of people wishing to speak under the public comment portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled.
  8. Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials (paper no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches) available to the Board but may not use any other form of media. Public speakers are asked to provide 10 copies of any copies of printed materials presented to the Board.

Persons attending Board meetings and/or speaking to the Board during Public Comment or during a public hearing must follow all requirements established by the Board, as well as all Board, chair and staff directions, in order to help maintain the order, proper decorum, safety and security, and the non-disruptive functioning of the Board meeting. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

If at any time persons appearing before the Board do not comply with these or any other Board requirements, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons out of order and require a change in behavior, delay or recess the meeting, or refuse permission to continue to address the Board, and ultimately, may require the person or persons to leave the premises of the Board meeting.