Public Participation

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

All regular and special meetings of the School Committee shall be open to the public.  Executive sessions will be held only as prescribed by the Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

The School Committee desires citizens of the district to attend its meetings so that they may become better acquainted with the operations and the programs of our local public schools.  In addition, the Committee would like the opportunity to hear the wishes and ideas of the public.  Any citizen wishing to initiate a broader, more comprehensive discussion on an issue may want to prepare the School Committee in advance with information and submit an agenda item for consideration by the Chair.  In the instance, said citizen must follow the same procedure as School Committee members for submission of an agenda item to the Committee as outlined herein, and said submission shall be either accepted or rejected as an agenda item at the discretion of the Chair.

 

Public comment is not a discussion, debate, or dialogue between individuals and the School Committee. It is an individual’s opportunity to express an opinion on issues within the School Committee’s authority.

 

In order that all citizens who wish to be heard before the Committee have a chance and to insure the ability of the Committee to conduct the district's business in an orderly manner, the following rules and procedures are adopted:

 

1. At the start of each regularly scheduled School Committee meeting, individuals or group representatives will sign in for an opportunity to speak during public comment.  The length of the public participation segment shall not exceed 15 minutes. All speakers are encouraged to present their remarks in a respectful manner.

 

2. Speakers will be allowed three (3) minutes to present their material.  The presiding Chairman may permit extension of t time limit in extenuating circumstances.

 

3. Topics for discussion must be limited to those items within the School Committee’s scope of authority. The authority of the School Committee primarily concerns the review and approval of the budget of the district's public schools, the performance of the Superintendent, and the educational goals and policies of the district’s public schools. Comments and complaints regarding school personnel (apart from the Superintendent) or students are generally prohibited unless those comments and complaints concern matters within the scope of the School Committee’s authority.

 

4. The Chair of the meeting, after a warning, reserves the right to terminate speech which is not constitutionally protected because it constitutes true threats that are likely to provoke a violent reaction and cause a breach of the peace, or incitement to imminent lawless conduct, or contain obscenities.

 

5. Written comments longer than three (3) minutes may be presented to the Committee before and after the meeting. All remarks will be addressed through the Chair of the meeting. Comments made during the public comment portion of the meeting do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Rockport School Committee. Sign up instructions will be provided for those who wish to participate in Public Comment