Manson School District

Audience Participation Procedure

The Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings. To permit fair and orderly expression of such comments, the Board typically provides a period at the beginning of the meeting during which visitors may make formal presentations. Such presentations should be less than three minutes in length. Participants may indicate on the meeting sign-in sheet that they wish to speak, or can be scheduled in advance by contacting the Board President Greg Neff or the Superintendent's office at 687-3140.  You may also email the board at: schoolboard@manson.org 

The Board will also allow individuals to express an opinion prior to Board action on agenda items the Board determines will benefit from public comment. Written and oral comments will be accepted by the Board before the adoption or amendment of policies which will promote the effective, efficient or safe management and operation of the district.

Individuals wishing to be heard by the Board will first be recognized by the president. Individuals, after identifying themselves, will proceed to make comments as briefly as the subject permits. In the event there is a high volume of participants, the president may ask presenters to limit their time. Members of the Manson School District Board of Directors welcome and encourage a written summary of individual remarks.

The president may interrupt or terminate an individual's statement when it is too lengthy, repetitive, personally directed, abusive, obscene, or irrelevant. The Board as a whole shall have the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings.

Individuals with disabilities who may need a modification to participate in our meeting should contact the superintendent's office before a regular meeting and as soon as possible in advance of a special meeting so that arrangements for the modification can be made.

An important note: It is the professional practice of the Board to meet in closed session with individual parents who wish to express concerns about individual staff members in those instances where the parent has already met with the employee and their supervisor. Out of respect for parent and student privacy, the Board will also meet routinely in closed session to discuss issues particular to that student or family needs.

Legal References: RCW 42.30.030 Meetings declared open and public 42.30.50 Interruptions—Procedures 42.U.S.C. 12101-12213—Americans with Disabilities Act