Procedures and Guidelines for Public Participation in Remote Board Meetings

On March 14, 2020, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order 7B which suspends the in-person open meeting requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (provided certain conditions are met) in an effort to mitigate the risk of transmitting COVID-19 through in-person public meetings and proceedings. The administration has taken steps necessary to ensure that the Board of Education will satisfy the conditions set forth in Executive Order 7B for holding Board meetings and proceedings remotely by videoconference until such time that in-person public meetings are safe to resume.

The public can view remote Board meetings and proceedings in real-time on the Board’s website. In addition, remote Board meetings and proceedings will be recorded, and such recordings will be posted on the Board’s website within seven days of the meeting or proceeding and made available within a reasonable time in the district’s offices.

Consistent with Board Policy 1120 (Board of Education Meetings), the Board of Education welcomes public participation in its meetings, including meetings held remotely pursuant to Executive Order 7B.

We are pleased to announce that starting with the November 15th BOE Meeting, we will have live public comment. When the BOE Meeting is posted on our calendar on our district website, you will now see two links, one link for the Zoom meeting for those who want to participate in public comment, and one link for the YouTube stream if you want to just watch the meeting. We ask that only those who want to participate in public comment click on the Zoom link. Please join the Zoom meeting no earlier than 10 minutes before the meeting. You will be placed in a “waiting room” until the meeting officially starts. Once the meeting begins, we will let all participants into the meeting. We will then lock the meeting. Please make sure that your Zoom display name is correct, and that you are muted until you are called upon to speak. When you are called on, please state your name and address and begin your comment. Once public comment has concluded, we ask that you please disconnect from the Zoom meeting and continue watching the meeting via the YouTube stream.