Descriptor Code: BCBI
Public Participation in Board Meetings
The Cherokee County Board of Education welcomes comments from interested persons regarding the School Board’s duties to:
1. Establish Policy with a focus on student achievement;
2. Maintain the School District’s accreditation and the opportunities it allows the School District’s students;
3. Set the School District’s vision;
4. Approve budgets and manage the School District’s finances; and,
5. Oversee the School District’s implementation of School Board Policy.
Concerns regarding the School District’s day-to-day operations should be resolved at the school or divisional level. Concerns not resolved at the school or divisional level should be presented to the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee. The School Board, mindful of the law prohibiting its micromanaging of the School District’s day-to-day operations, should not hear comments regarding those operations unless the concern was not resolved after consideration by the Superintendent.
Public Participation Session
A public participation session, not to exceed 30 minutes, will be held at each regularly-scheduled board meeting. Each individual speaker is allotted three (3) minutes for comments, but the Chair may equally vary the time allotted for individual speakers and limit the number of speakers addressing a single topic to allow the comments of as many speakers as possible during the session.
A person seeking to speak during public participation must complete a registration form. The registration form will be made available at least 30 minutes prior to the meeting and should be submitted before the meeting begins.
Rules of Conduct
1. Speakers should remember the purposes of the meeting are to transact business pertaining to the schools and review the School District’s financial status.
2. The speaker will state his/her name and connection to the School District immediately after reaching the podium.
3. Disruptive comments or conduct are prohibited. The School Board will look to O.C.G.A. § 16-11-39 and other relevant laws to determine whether comments/conduct are disruptive.
4. Comments from any member of the public not recognized to speak are prohibited.
5. Remarks will end when the speaker’s allotted time has ended.
6. Speakers must comply with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) and other student privacy laws.
Violation of this Policy may end the violator’s participation in the meeting.
ADOPTED: August 2, 2001 REVISED: April 20, 2023
Policy Guidelines (PDF linked above)
CCCSD Administrative Procedures Regarding Expected Behavior and Decorum of Visitors to Meetings
Pursuant to the School Board’s Public Participation at School Board Meetings Policy (BCBI) these administrative guidelines are to be utilized by CCSD staff in policy application:
The Cherokee County Board of Education, pursuant to State law, conducts monthly public business meetings during which there is a public participation segment and opportunity for the public to address the School Board relative to business agenda items. While these monthly meetings are open to the public, they are not meetings with the public. In this public setting, comments from the audience are confined to the individuals who signed up to speak during the time designated for citizens to address the Board.
This School District is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone attending meetings of the School Board. As part of this commitment, CCSD continues to implement safety and security measures. Meeting attendees will pass through a metal detector and a security screening prior to entering the meeting. Meeting attendees are encouraged to arrive early to provide ample time to go through the security check-in and find seating prior to the beginning of the meeting.
Below you will find information about expected behavior and decorum of visitors as well as consequences for those who choose to disrupt proceedings:
• Visitors should silence their cell phones and electronic devices before the meeting begins.
• Visitors and speakers should not bring signs and posters into the building.
• Only the speakers who signed up to participate in the meeting will address the Board (Policy BCBI). The topic addressed must be identical to the one submitted CCSD Public Participation Speaker Sign-up Form. Speakers should not expect School Board Members to respond at this meeting to public comments or questions.
• Those in attendance should extend courtesy to School Board Members and to all speakers by listening respectfully and by refraining from making comments or sounds while others are speaking.
• Those in attendance must comply with the School Board Policy BCBI. Disruptive comments and conduct that interfere with the conduct of official business are prohibited.
• Any individual causing an actual disruption is subject to removal from the meeting as permitted by OCGA § 20-2-58
8/17/23
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SPEAKER SIGN-UP FORM (available at the meeting, downloadable PDF linked at top of page)
Today’s Date:
Name:
Address:
Email:
____I am a CCSD Parent.
____ I am a CCSD Employee.
____I am a CCSD Student.
____ I am a Cherokee County resident.
____ Other: _____________________________
If you wish to speak about a particular item on today’s agenda, please indicate the item:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Would you like a staff response? _____ Yes ____No
Public Participation Information
Signing up to speak is not a guarantee you will be called to speak. A public participation session, not to exceed 30 minutes, will be held at each regularly scheduled board meeting. Each individual speaker is allotted three (3) minutes for comments, but the Chair may equally vary the time allotted for individual speakers and limit the number of speakers addressing a single topic to allow the comments of as many speakers as possible during the session. A person seeking to speak during public participation must complete a registration form. The registration form will be made available at least 30 minutes prior to the meeting and should be submitted before the meeting begins.
Rules of Conduct
1. Speakers should remember the purposes of the meeting are to transact business pertaining to the schools and review the School District’s financial status.
2. The speaker will state his/her name and connection to the School District immediately after reaching the podium.
3. Disruptive comments or conduct are prohibited. The School Board will look to O.C.G.A. § 16-11-39 and other relevant laws to determine whether comments/conduct are disruptive.
4. Comments from any member of the public not recognized to speak are prohibited.
5. Remarks will end when the speaker’s allotted time has ended.
6. Speakers must comply with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) and other student privacy laws.
Violation of this Policy may end the violator’s participation in the meeting.
