PUBLIC COMMENT IN BOARD MEETINGS
The board recognizes the importance of citizen participation in school district matters and
has created rules to assure citizens are heard and board meetings are conducted efficiently
and in an organized manner. The board shall set time aside for public comment at each
board meeting except closed sessions, at those times specified by the board. The orderly
process of the board meeting shall not be interfered with or disrupted. Hostile conduct
and offensive or defamatory comments will not be tolerated.
The board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public comment.
The board president shall specify the total amount of time available for public comment
prior to opening the public comment period. If public comment is allowed prior to
individual agenda items, that limit on the total comment period should also be defined.
Individual comments will be limited to 5 minutes for each participant. The board
president will recognize these individuals to make their comments at the appropriate
time. Only those speakers recognized by the board president shall be allowed to speak.
Comments by others are out of order. If disruptive, the individual making the comments
or another individual causing disruption may be asked to leave the board meeting.
The board requires any member of the public desiring to address the body to identify
himself or herself, including an address and the name of any organization represented by
such person unless the board waives the address requirement to protect the security of the
individual.
It is helpful if citizens wishing to address the board on a certain agenda item will notify
the superintendent prior to the board meeting. Citizens wishing to present petitions to the
board relating to that item may do so at this time. However, the board will only receive
the petitions and will not act upon them or their contents.
Individuals who have a complaint about employees or students who have complaints
shall follow policies 403.05 and 504.01 respectively. The board will follow policy
1005.01 in handling public complaints.
Any written or printed materials to be circulated for a meeting of the school board must
be submitted to the superintendent by the Wednesday preceding a Monday night meeting
and such information will only be added to the agenda packet at the discretion of the
superintendent after consultation with the board president.
Legal Reference: Nebraska Statute 84-1408 to 1414
Cross Reference: 201.07 Board Member Liability
403.05 Public Complaints about Employees
1005.01 Public Complaints
Approved July 14, 2010 Revised November 14, 2016 Revised August 12, 2024
