SERIES 1000 Community Relations

1120 Public Participation at Board of Education Meetings

1120(a)

Participation by the general public in debate at regular meetings of matters before the Board of Education shall be permitted. Public participation shall be subject to the provision enumerated below. On issues that appear to arouse strong public interest, the Board should, whenever possible, schedule a special meeting limited to that subject. In order to limit or close commentary on any subject, a majority vote of those Board members in attendance will be required.

1. Everyone is requested to address the Chairperson for recognition. 

2. Each speaker must state his/her name and address. 

3. All speakers must observe rules of common etiquette. Personalities are not to be injected. Anyone violating this rule will be denied the floor, unless waived by the Chairperson or a majority of the Board, each speaker shall limit his/her remarks to five (5) minutes. 

4. Each speaker is limited to a maximum of five minutes. A speaker will not be recognized for a second time unless time remains after all have been heard. Speakers are requested to avoid repetition. 

5. Each speaker must concern himself/herself with the topic under discussion. Anyone digressing from the topic will be ruled out of order. 

6. A speaker in violation of these rules may be ejected from the room and, for this purpose, an officer will be present at all meetings which threaten to become contentious. 

7. Following each vote on a motion, the Chairperson will announce the decision of the Board and announce its import. 

8. It is requested that no one read lengthy statements. Written statements and materials should be made available in advance for distribution to Board members. 

9. Speakers shall state their positions on the subject being discussed. Those who have questions shall, whenever possible, submit them in writing in advance of the meeting. 

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes 

1-225 Meetings of government agents to be public. Recording of votes. Schedule and agenda of meetings to be filed. Notice of special meetings. Executive sessions.

1120(b) 

Community Relations 

Public Participation at Board of Education Meetings 

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes (continued) 

1-226 Broadcasting or photographing meetings. 

19a-342 Smoking in public meetings in rooms of public building prohibited. 1-227 Mailing of notice of meetings to persons filing written request. Fees. 

1-230 Regular meetings to be held pursuant to regulation, ordinance or resolution. 

1-232 Conduct of meetings. 

1-206 Denial of access to public records or meetings. 

10-238 Petition for hearing by board of education. 

Policy adopted: April 13, 2015 THOMASTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Thomaston, Connecticut