FILE: BCBI
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
Public participation in meetings of the Lafayette Parish School Board, including committee meetings, is permitted and encourages as provided in Louisiana Open Meetings Law and this policy.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
The School Board shall allow public comment at any meeting of the School Board prior to taking any vote on an agenda item. Public comment shall be allowed for each agenda item upon which the School Board will take action and shall occur after a formal motion regarding the agenda has been made and seconded and prior to School Board member discussion of and action on the agenda item. Once the School Board has begun its deliberation on and agenda item, there shall be no further public comment on that item.
The School Board’s procedures for persons wishing to be heard at a School Board meeting on matters relating to School Board agenda items are as follows:
All comments are to be no longer than three (3) minutes. Public comments may be extended or shortened at the discretion of the School Board President.
Each person may speak only once on each agenda item unless recognized by the School Board President to speak again.
If a group of interested persons is present, the group must assign no more than two (2) speakers or representatives of the group to speak on behalf of the group.
The School Board will receive public comment only on agenda items upon which a motion for action is made, and comments on each item will be restricted to the subject matter of such motion for action.
During public comment, individuals shall refrain from asking questions or making requests of the School Board, School Board members, the Superintendent, or staff. No accusatory comments or comments relative to the performance of specific employees or potential employees shall be permitted.
A copy of this policy is available to the public on the district’s web site and may be obtained from Central Office during regular business hours and at meetings of the School Board and its committees.
REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH DISABILITIES
The School Board shall allow any member of the public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or a designated caregiver of such a person, to participate in its meetings via teleconference or video conference, if such person requests that accommodation prior to the meeting. Members of the public who desire to participate in this fashion, or their designated caregivers, shall certify that they meet the definition of a person with a disability recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act when they submit their request to comment on agenda items and shall comply with the same rules and regulations on speaking applicable to those participating in person at such meetings. The Superintendent shall promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures as necessary to regulate and facilitate such participation.
| Adopted prior to 1975 | Revised: March 7, 2018 |
| Revised: January 21, 1998 | Revised: August 9, 2023 |
| Revised: July 1, 2015 |
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 42:14, 42:15, 42:16, 42:23
Board minutes, 1-21-98, 7-1-15, 3-7-18, 8-9-23
Lafayette Parish School Board