The Ocean Springs School Board encourages the public to express to the School Board its viewpoints on issues vital to the operation of the school district.  In order to conduct board business in an orderly, efficient manner and to allow public input into board meetings, the Board authorizes a "Public Comments" item on its agenda for its regularly board meetings.

DEFINITION

Public comments is an opportunity for members of the general public to briefly express their ideas, concerns, and suggestions to the School Board on matters of individual or community interest. 

LIMITATIONS

Public comments are limited to three (3) minutes per individual or group.  Public comments at special meetings must be related to the call of the meeting.

In order to address comments to the Board, individuals must sign-in at the beginning of the meeting.  Individuals will be allowed to address the Board in the order of sign-in.

The public comments time is not a forum for in-depth discussion of issues with the Board, nor is it a public discussion.  Rather, it is a time that the public may use to make the Board aware of matters related to student achievement and school operations.

Issues requiring more than three minutes and possibly requiring Board action or response should be addressed through the process outlined in Policy BCBI, Public Participation at Board Meetings.

PARAMETERS

The public is reminded that issues protected by privacy laws (student discipline and school personnel, for example) cannot be discussed in open session and are therefore not suitable items for public comments.  Further, the Board reserves the right to "make and enforce rules and regulations for the conduct of persons attending its meetings."  ' 25-41-9

The Mississippi Public School Accountability Standard for this policy is Standard 18. 

LEGAL REF.:  MS CODE as cited

ADOPTED:    10/11/2005

REVISED:      11/10/2009