The School Board recognized the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance allowing members of the public to express themselves on School Corporation matters. Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-3 (Open Door Law) provides that all meetings of the governing bodies of public agencies must be open at all times for the purposes of permitting members of the public to observe and record them. School Board meetings are held in public but are not public meetings or public forums. Community members are encouraged to handle individual concerns by first dealing directly with the school person or division closest to the situation. The school board and administrative team will work diligently to provide appropriate input processes for the public via committee participation, open forums, special hearings, and other appropriate means.

The presiding officer of each Board meeting shall administer the established procedures of the Board for conducting oral public comment. These procedural rules for oral public comment are Board meetings are reasonable rules to maintain order at the meeting, allow the Board to operate without disruptive behavior and permit the Board to operate in an efficient manner so the business of the Board can be conducted and completed timely. 

If an individual or group desires to formally present information, concerns, or proposals concerning a scheduled public agenda item, the following procedures shall be followed:

1. A person who desires to address the Board concerning an agenda item must sign in before the start of the meeting. A registration sheet will be available at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Required registration information will include the name and address of the person(s) providing the comments, and the agenda item to be addressed. Participants shall be recognized by the presiding officer and shall be requested to preface their comments by an announcement of their name, address, and group affiliation, when and if appropriate. 
2. Comments will be offered during the discussion of the agenda item prior to any Board action. The order in which persons speak and the opportunity to speak are ultimately at the discretion of the Presiding Officer.
3. The Presiding Officer will read the names of the person wishing to address the Board. The person should move to the podium to make his/her statement. At the Presiding Officer’s discretion, a person who did not sign in may be invited by the Presiding Officer to comment on a specific point being discussed.
4. Each person’s statement may not exceed three (3) minutes. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic. If several people have indicated a desire to speak, the time limit may be reduced in order to allow more people the opportunity to speak. 
5. Comments will be directed to the Presiding Officer – not to an individual Board member. This is time reserved for Board input not for questions and answers.
6. Comments should not reference specific employees, patrons, or students in the corporation.
7. Statements will not be abusive or argumentative. Persons making comments will not debate statements made by other persons.
8. Public participation shall be permitted only as indicated on the order of business or at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. If an agenda item is added after the official posting of the agenda, a patron may be recognized by the Presiding Officer during the meeting to speak to the new agenda item.
9. The Presiding Officer may:
   a) Interrupt, warn, or close a person’s statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene or irrelevant.
   b) Request any individual to leave the meeting when that person behaves in a manner that is disruptive to the orderly conduct of the meeting.
   c) Call for a recess when public decorum interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting.
10. The public comment period for any agenda item with respect to which members of the public wish to bring oral public comment shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes unless extended by a vote of the Board; provided, however, that every person is physically present and has followed the reasonable rules set forth above, shall be permitted an opportunity to provide oral public comment by dividing the total time for oral public comment by the number of persons providing oral public comment. 
11. The Board encourages thoughtful, contributory statements. Public participation, attendance at Board meetings, and involvement in school activities, all serve to build positive relationships with the educational community. 

The School Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on School Corporation matters.

Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-3 (Open Door Law) provides that all meetings of the governing bodies of public agencies must be open at all times for the purposes of permitting members of the public to observe and record them.  School Board meetings are held in public but are not public meetings or public forums.  Community members are encouraged to handle individual concerns by first dealing directly with the school person or division closest to the situation.  This school board and administrative team will work diligently to provide appropriate input processes for the public via committee participation, open forums, special hearings, and other appropriate means.

A person desiring to address the Board of Education on any matter not represented on a posted agenda, must give notice to the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent (317-423-8357) at least (7) seven days prior to a scheduled Board meeting and include name and address of the participant; group affiliation, if and when appropriate; topic to be addressed. The notice must indicate the nature of the presentation and must include a written copy of the patron’s planned remarks.  Those remarks must not exceed three minutes.  Documents will be presented to the Superintendent and will be copied and distributed to the entire Board.

The request to address the board will be reviewed by the Presiding Officer and/or Superintendent.  Together they will determine if the matter is appropriate for inclusion on the Board agenda.  If approved by the Superintendent or the Board President the amount of time for agenda items for any person or group who have been approved for a presentation on the Board agenda shall be limited to three (3) minutes unless the Board votes to extend the presentation time. If a decision is made not to include the item on a Board agenda, the matter will be referred to the appropriate administrator who will be responsible for contacting the patron and scheduling an appointment to discuss their topic of interest or concern.