Public Participation and FAQ’s

Public participation in regular board meetings is always encouraged. If your question is not answered below, please contact Andrea Eustice.

When may a citizen speak at a board meeting?

At the beginning of each regular meeting is a time when citizens are offered time to speak by the Board President. There are Request to Speak forms available at the entry to the Board Room as well, that can be completed and handed to the Recording Secretary to present to the Board President. Iowa Open Meetings Law does not permit the Board to take action on public comments on items not posted on the agenda.

How does an item get added to the agenda?

For an item to be considered for the agenda, interested citizens must submit items in writing to the Superintendent’s Office by noon on the Wednesday prior to the regular scheduled meeting. The request does not guarantee the item will be placed on the agenda.

What is a closed session?

Regular and special board meetings are, by Iowa law, open to the public. There may be a portion of a meeting or all of a meeting that is operated as a legally closed session and not open to the public. Examples of items that may be dealt with during a closed session include student discipline, personnel issues, union negotiations, real estate, and administrative evaluations.