1400 - Meeting Conduct, Order of Business, Quorum & Public Comment

Policy No. 1400

Board of Directors

SEDRO-WOOLLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Meeting Conduct, Order of Business and Quorum

The board will schedule its meetings in compliance with the law, and as deemed by the board to be in the best interests of the district and community. The board will function through (1) regular meetings, (2) special meetings, and (3) emergency meetings.

Regular Meetings

Regular meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Sedro-Woolley High School. An agenda of the business that the board will transact will be posted on the district website, or the website shared or hosted by another public agency not less than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the published start time of the meeting.

If the board adjourns to times other than a regular meeting time, the board will provide notice of the meeting in the same manner as provided for special meetings. All regular meetings of the board will be held within the district boundaries. In cases of emergency, fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency, the president may provide for a location other than that of the regular meeting, a remote meeting with no physical location, or a meeting at which physical attendance is limited. In the instances of remote or limited in-person meetings, the District will provide real-time telephonic, electronic, internet, or other readily available means of remote access that do not require an additional cost to access the meeting.

The district will hold remote or physical attendance limited meetings only in cases of emergency declared by federal, state or local government, or in cases of local emergency, fire, flood, earthquake or other emergency, and at such meetings will provide real-time telephonic, electronic, internet or other readily available means of remote access that do not require an additional cost to access the meeting.

Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by the president or at the request of a majority of the board members. A written notice of a special meeting, stating the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted will be delivered to each board member. Written notice will also be delivered to each newspaper and radio or television station that has filed a written request for such notices. Written notice may be delivered personally, by mail, facsimile, or email. The notice must be posted on the district's website.

The district must also prominently display the notice at the main entrance of the district's headquarters as well as at the location of the meeting if the meeting is held at a location other than the headquarters and is not held as a remote meeting. During a declared emergency that prevents a meeting from being held in-person with reasonable safety, the district may post notice of a remote meeting without a physical location on the district website, or the website hosted or shared by another agency.

All required notices must be delivered or posted not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.

A board member waives the written notice requirement if that board member:

Submits a written waiver of notice to the board secretary at or prior to the time the meeting convenes. The waiver may be given by telegram, fax, or email; or
Is actually present at the time the meeting convenes.

The board will not take final disposition on any matter other than those items stated in the meeting notice.

If the district calls a special meeting of the board to deal with an emergency involving injury or damage to persons or property or the likelihood of such injury or damage, when time requirements of such notice would make notice impractical and increase the likelihood of such injury or damage, or when the required notice cannot be posted or displayed with reasonable safety, including but not limited to declared emergencies in which travel to physically post notice is barred or advised against, the board may meet immediately with no prior notice.

Emergency Meetings

If the district determines, by reason of fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency, that there is a need for expedited action by the board to meet the emergency, the chair/president may provide for a meeting site other than the regular meeting site, for a remote meeting without a physical location, or for a meeting at which the physical attendance by some or all members of the public is limited due to a declared emergency. The president may provide for an emergency meeting without providing notice.

If, after the declaration of an emergency by a local or state government or agency, or by the federal government, the district determines that it cannot hold a board meeting with its members or with public attendance in person with reasonable safety because of the emergency, the district will either:

1. Hold a remote meeting without a physical location, or

2. Hold a meeting at which the physical attendance by some or all members of the public is limited due to the declared emergency.

Members of the board may appear at a remote meeting telephonically or by other electronic means that allows for real-time, remote communication.

For a remote meeting or a meeting at which the physical attendance by some or all members of the public is limited due to a declared emergency, the district must provide an option for the public to listen to the proceedings telephonically or by using a readily available alternative in real-time that does not require any additional cost for participation. Free readily available options include, but are not limited to, broadcast by the public agency on a locally available cable television station that is available throughout the jurisdiction or other electronic, internet, or other means of remote access that does not require any additional cost for access to the program. The district may also permit the other electronic means of remote access.

The district will provide notice for remote meetings or meetings at which the physical attendance by some or all members of the public is limited due to a declared emergency according to this Policy. The notice for meetings pursuant to a declared emergency must include instructions on how the public may listen live to proceedings and how the public may access any other electronic means of remote access offered by the district.

The district will not take final disposition on any matter during a remote meeting or a meeting at which the physical attendance by some or all members of the public is limited due to a declared emergency unless the district has provided an option for the public to listen to the proceedings, except for an executive session, pursuant to this Policy.

Public Notice

The board will give proper public notice for any special meeting whenever a regular meeting is adjourned to another time. The board may provide notice for an emergency meeting in accordance with this Policy.

All meetings will be open to the public with the exception of executive or closed sessions authorized by law. The board will take final action resulting from executive session discussions during a meeting open to the public as required by law.

Individuals with disabilities who may need a modification to participate in a meeting and those who may have difficulty physically attending a meeting should contact the superintendent’s office no later than three days before a regular meeting and as soon as possible in advance of a special meeting so that special arrangements can be made.

During the interim between meetings, the office of the superintendent, as board secretary, will be the office of the board. The district’s public records will be open for inspection in the manner provided by and subject to the limitation of the law.

Quorum and Voting

A quorum consists of the majority of all board members. For school boards with five members, three board members constitute a quorum. A quorum is required for the transaction of business, including voting. Board members are not required to be physically present to attend a board meeting. Any or all board members may attend a board meeting and vote via any communication platform that provides real-time verbal communication without being in the same physical location with those in attendance.

Additionally, any meeting held via a communication platform must: 1) include proper notice with any required passwords or authorization codes; 2) be known and accessible to the public; and 3) accommodate any member of the public who wishes to participate.

The board will take no action by secret ballot at any meeting required to be open to the public. Generally, the board votes on motions and resolutions by “voice” vote, unless a board member requests to vote by oral roll call, in which case the board will do so. A motion passes when a majority of those board members present and voting vote in favor. However, a majority vote of all board members is required to elect or select a superintendent or board officer and the board must vote on these matters by an oral roll call. The board will vote by an oral roll call whenever required by law.

Meeting Conduct and Order of Business

The board will conduct all board meetings in a civil, orderly, and business-like manner. The board uses Roberts Rules of Order (Revised) as a guide, except when board bylaws or policies supersede such rules. During board meetings, board members will refrain from communicating electronically (e.g., by email, text, social media) with their fellow board members.

The board will use the agenda to establish its regular order of business. However, either the superintendent or a board member may request additions or changes to the prepared agenda, and the board may adopt a revised agenda or order of business by a majority vote of the board members present. At a special meeting, the board may take final action only on that business contained in the notice of the special meeting.

It is unlawful for any member of the public to knowingly carry onto, or to possess on, any area of a facility being used for official school board meetings, a dangerous weapon, including but not limited to a firearm, “nun-chu-ka sticks,” “throwing stars,” air gun or pistol, stun gun, or other dangerous weapon as listed in RCW 9.41.280. The board will ensure that signs providing notice of the restrictions on possession of firearms and other weapons are posted at facilities being used for official meetings of the board.

Public Attendance and Comment

Any member of the public may attend board meetings, including individuals who do not live within district boundaries. The board will not require people to sign in, complete questionnaires, or establish other conditions for attendance.

The board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings. In order to permit fair and orderly expression of public comment, with the exception of emergency situations, the board will provide a period at or before every regular meeting at which final action is to take place for public comment. During public comment period, visitors may address the board on any topic within the scope of the board’s responsibility. Public comment may occur orally or through written comments submitted before the meeting. Written comments must adhere to the standards of civility discussed below and must be received 24 hour before the board meeting. All written public comments timely submitted will be distributed to each board member.

The board may structure the oral public comment period, including determining the total time allotted for public comment and equally apportioning the minutes for each speaker. The board is not obligated to provide additional public comment time to accommodate everyone in attendance who wishes to speak. Any structure the board imposes will be content neutral.

The board may require those who wish to speak (but not all attendees) to sign in so that the board has a tally of individuals who wish to speak and can call them forward. When called forward, individuals will identify themselves and proceed to make comments within the time limits established by the board.

The board is not obligated to respond to questions or challenges made during the public comment period and the board’s silence will not signal agreement or endorsement of the speaker’s remarks. The board may control the time, place, and manner of public comment. The chair/president may terminate an individual's statement when the allotted time has passed and may interrupt a speaker to require the same standard of civility that the board imposes on itself. Examples of uncivil comments include comments that:

Are libelous or slanderous under a legal standard;
Are an unwarranted invasion of privacy;
Are obscene or indecent pursuant to the Federal Communications Act or any rule or regulation of the Federal Communications Commission;
Violate school district policy or procedure related to harassment, intimidation, or bullying of students, or policy or procedure related to nondiscrimination;
Incite an unlawful act on school premises or violate a lawful school regulation; or
Create a material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the board meeting.

The board as a whole has the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings and can maintain order by removing those who are disruptive. However, the board recognizes the distinction between uncivil discourse, which it will not tolerate, and comments about the board, district, and / or staff that are negative yet still civil in nature. The board will exercise its authority to maintain order in a content neutral manner.

In addition to the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting, the board may identify the agenda items that require or would benefit from opportunity for public comment and provide those opportunities as part of the meeting agenda before taking final action. Individuals or groups who wish to present to the board on an agenda item are encouraged to request and schedule such presentations in advance. Opportunity for public comment—both oral and written—is required before the board adopts or amends a policy that is not expressly or by implication authorized under state or federal law, but which will promote the education of K-12 students, or will promote the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the district. Additionally, the board will provide an opportunity for a representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the board to present about his or her firm.

Meeting Recordings

Effective June 30, 2024, all regular and special meetings of the board at which a final action is taken or formal public testimony is accepted, except executive sessions or emergency meetings, will be audio recorded. Such recordings will be maintained for at least one year. The recording will include the comments of the directors and the comments of members of the public if formal public testimony is accepted at the meeting.

Cross References:

1220 - Board Officers and Duties of Board Members

1410 - Executive or Closed Sessions

1420 - Proposed Agenda and Consent Agenda

Legal References:

RCW 28A.330.020 Certain board elections, manner and vote required - Selection of personnel, manner

RCW 28A.320.040 Bylaws for board and school government

RCW 28A.330.070 Office of board Records available for public inspection

RCW 28A.343.370 Vacancies

RCW 28A.343.380 Meetings

RCW 28A.343.390 Quorum Failure to attend meetings

RCW 42.30.030 Meetings declared open and public

RCW 42.30.050 Interruptions - Procedure

RCW 42.30.060 Ordinances, rules, resolutions, regulations, etc., adopted at public meetings Notice Secret voting prohibited

RCW 42.30.070 Times and places for meetings - Emergencies - Exception

RCW 42.30.080 Special Meetings

42 U.S.C. 12101-12213 Americans with Disabilities Act

RCW 9.41.280 Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities Penalty Exceptions

RCW 42.30.035 Minutes

Management Resources:

2022 - June June

2018 - August 2018 - August Policy Issue

2014 - June Issue

2013 - April Issue

2012 - June Issue

Policy News, June 2005 Special Meeting Notice Requirements

Adoption Date: April 11, 2011

Revised: September 10, 2012

Legal Reference Update: December 2012

Revised: September 27, 2021

Revised: April 10, 2023

REVISED: October 9, 2023

Sedro-Woolley School District

Series - 1000 The Board of Directors

Organization

1000 - Legal Status and Operation

1005 - Key Functions of the Board

1008 - Site Base Council Centered Decision Making

Election

1105 - Director Districts

1105P - Procedure (Director Districts)

1110 - Election

1110P - Procedures (Election)

1111 - Oath of Office

1111P - Procedures (Oath of Office)

1112 - Director Orientation

1113 - Board Member Residence

1114 - Board Member Resignation and Vacancy

1114P - Procedures ( Board Member Resignation & Vacancy)

Board Organization

1210 - Annual Organizational Meeting

1220 - Board Officers and Duties of Board Members

1225 -- School Director Legislative Program

1230 - Secretary

1240 - Committees

1250 - Student Representation

1250P - Procedures (Student Representation)

Methods of Governance

1310 - Policy Adoption, Manuals and Administrative Procedures

1320 - Suspension of a Policy

1330 - Administration in the Absence of Policy and Procedure

Meetings

1400 - Meeting Conduct, Order of Business, Quorum & Public Comment

1400P - Procedure (Meeting Conduct, Order of Business, Quorum & Public Comment)

1410 - Executive or Closed Sessions

1420 - Proposed Agenda and Consent Agenda

1440 - Minutes

1450 - Absence of a Board Member

Principles of Operation

1610 - Conflicts of Interests

1620 - Board-Superintendent Relations & Board-Staff Communications

1620P - Procedure (Board-Superintendent Relations & Board-Staff Communications

1630 - Evaluation of the Superintendent

Board Member Benefits

1731 - Board Member Expenses

1731P - Procedure (Board Member Expenses)

1732 - Board Member Insurance

1733- Board Member Compensation

1733P - Procedure (Board Member Compensation)

Board Development

1810 - Annual Governance Goals & Objectives

1820 - Board Self-Assessment

1820P - Procedure (Board Self-Assessment)

1822 - Training & Development for Board Members

1830 - Participation in School Boards' Association