Code No. 217

Board of Directors

Public Hearings

Public hearings may be held by the board on school district matters at the discretion of the board.  Public notice of a public hearing shall be in the same manner as for a school board meeting, except that the notice shall be given ten days prior to hearing.

At public hearings citizens who register at the door will be allowed to speak to the issue for which the public hearing is being held.  Others may be allowed to speak at the board’s discretion.  Speakers are asked to keep their remarks as brief as possible, and no longer than three minutes in length.  Prior to the beginning of the hearing, speakers and spectators will be apprised of any rules of order to be followed in regard to time limitations, questions, remarks, rebuttals and so forth.  In no event will a speaker be allowed to take the time of another recognized speaker.

The board shall conduct public hearings in an orderly fashion.  At the beginning of the hearing, statements and support and background materials will be presented.  The board president shall then recognize the speakers.  A board member may ask questions of the speakers after receiving permission from the chair.  Only those speakers recognized by the chair will be allowed to speak, comments by others are out of order.  Individuals who interfere with or interrupt speakers or the board shall be asked to leave.

Legal Reference:    Iowa Code Chapters 24.9, 279.8, .10, 297.22 (2003).

Cross Reference:  200   School Board Meetings

                                200   Public Participation in School Board Meetings

                                700   Public Review of the Budget

Approved:     April 10, 1989          

Reviewed:    February 22, 2005   

Revised:       March 22, 1994