PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BOARD MEETINGS
The Board recognizes the importance of citizen participation in school District matters. In order to assure citizens are heard and Board meetings are conducted efficiently and in an organized manner, the Board may set time aside for citizen participation, either at a specific time during the meeting or during the discussion of agenda items.
Citizens wishing to address the Board may do so at this time. However, the Board will only receive the petitions and not act upon them or their contents. The Board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public participation.
If the pressure of business or other circumstances dictate, the board president may decide to eliminate this practice. The Board president will recognize these individuals to make their comments at the appropriate time. The orderly process of the Board meeting shall not be interfered with or disrupted. 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.
Individuals who have a complaint about employees may bring their complaint to the Board only after they have followed board policy addressing citizens' complaints. Students who have a complaint may only bring their complaint to the Board after they have followed board policy addressing students' complaints.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code 21; 22; 279.8 (1995).
Cross Reference: 205 Board Member Liability
210.8 Board Meeting Agenda
214 Public Hearings
402.5 Public Complaints About Employees
Approved: 12/9/96 Reviewed: 9/00 Revised: 1/2020
11/02
9/08
8/10
12/12
GENERAL COMPLAINTS BY CITIZENS
The Board recognizes that concerns regarding the operation of the District will arise. The Board further believes that constructive criticism can assist in improving the quality of the education program and in meeting individual student needs more effectively. The Board also places trust in its employees and desires to support their actions in a manner which frees them from unnecessary or unwarranted criticism and complaints.
Procedures for dealing with complaints concerning programs or practices should be governed by the following principles:
• where action/investigation is desired by the complainant, or where it seems appropriate, the matter should be handled as near the source as possible;
• complaints should both be investigated and, if possible, resolved expeditiously;
• complaints should be dealt with courteously and in a constructive manner; and,
• individuals directly affected by the complaint should have an opportunity to respond.
Specific procedures for handling complaints may be established in policies. The Board, consistent with its Board policy-making role, will deal with complaints concerning specific schools, programs or procedures only after the usual channels have been exhausted. Complaints regarding employees or complaints by students will follow the more specific policies on those issues.
When a complaint requiring attention is received by the Board or a Board member it will be referred to the Superintendent. After all of the channels have been exhausted, the complainant may appeal to the Board by requesting a place on the Board agenda or during the public audience portion of the Board meeting. If the complainant appeals to the Board, the appeal shall be in writing, signed and explain the process followed by the complainant prior to the appeal to the Board. It is within the Board’s discretion to determine whether to hear the complaint.
Approved: 12/9/96 Reviewed: 9/00 Revised: 1/2020
11/02
9/08
8/10
12/12