Public Comment Policy

The AXL Academy Board of Directors recognizes the value of public comment on school issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on matters of community interest.

Section 1: AGENDA REQUESTS:

Any person or group wishing to place an item on the agenda shall register their intent with the  Board Secretary no later than seven (7) days prior to the meeting and include name and address of the participant, group affiliation, if and when appropriate, and the topic to be addressed.

Such requests to add topics to the Board agenda shall be subject to the approval of the Board Chairperson.

Section 2: PUBLIC COMMENT:

In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comment, the Board shall provide a period for public participation at every regular meeting of the Board and publish rules to govern such participation in Board meetings.

A period for public participation at the beginning of every regular meeting, or such other time during the meeting as the presiding officer deems appropriate, of the Board shall be for comments with regard to items on and not on the agenda for that regular meeting.

The presiding officer of each Board meeting at which public participation is permitted shall administer the rules of the Board for its conduct.

The presiding officer and those wishing to make public statements shall be guided by the following rules:

1. Public participation shall be permitted as indicated on the order of business and at the discretion of the presiding officer.
2. Anyone having a legitimate interest in the actions of the Board may participate during the public portion of a meeting.
3. Attendees must register their intention to participate in the public portion of the meeting upon their arrival at the meeting.  There will be a sign in sheet with the Secretary.
4. Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and will be requested to preface their comments by an announcement of their name and group affiliation, if and when appropriate.
5. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to five (5) minutes duration, unless extended by the presiding officer.
6. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic.
7. To ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to speak, please be brief and limit your comments to one topic.
8. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no person may address or question Board members individually.
9. The Board will not respond to comments made during the public participation periods unless it is necessary to ask a clarifying question, correct a factual error, or provide specific factual information in answer to a direct question.
10. The presiding officer may:

• interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant's statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, or irrelevant;
• request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum;
• call for a recess or an adjournment;
• waive these rules.

The Board of Directors shall respond, if applicable, in writing, to those making public comment, 10 days prior to the next scheduled Board meeting except in the event that a response cannot be formulated in this timeframe.  The presiding officer shall communicate the response timing expectation to the presenter within the 10 day timeframe as well.  This allows a presenter the opportunity to submit an Agenda request within the 7 day notice and review required in Section 1 above, if he or she desires that the subject be discussed further, subject to the Agenda Request rules.