FILE: BCB
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PROCEDURES
The Avoyelles Parish School Board recognizes that it is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens be advised of and aware of the performance of public officials and the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy. Toward this end, except as provided for by state law, all meetings of the Avoyelles Parish School Board shall be open to the public.
It is the desire of the School Board that meetings be formal enough for orderly procedure, but informal enough to be natural, to encourage free discussion, and to promote group thinking and action. In matters of procedures not covered by law, School Board policy, or the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), meetings of the School Board, including committee meetings, shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised. The President shall be entitled to discuss and vote on all matters before the School Board.
The President of the School Board, or, in his/her absence, the Vice-President, shall conduct all meetings. In the absence of both, the Superintendent shall preside until the School Board elects an acting chairman. The presiding officer shall recognize members of the School Board who wish to be heard in the order that he/she deems advisable. No member of the School Board shall speak without having first been recognized.
Each School Board member shall be given an opportunity to express without interruption, his/her views on any agenda item. The President may stop any discussion which does not apply to the motion last made. School Board member comment shall be limited to a total of five (5) minutes per member and no member shall speak more than twice on a motion. Aside from such limitation, the President may limit debate only with the concurrence of the members present.
Public participation in School Board meetings shall be permitted during the public comment period on agenda items. (Refer to policy BCBI, Public Participation in School Board Meetings) Other persons may be recognized in School Board meetings upon approval of the School Board. The President of the School Board shall have complete authority to remove any person(s) who willfully disrupts a meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting cannot be maintained.
SUSPENSION OF MEETING PROCEDURES
The procedures governing meetings of the School Board shall not be suspended except by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the entire School Board.
Revised: April 5, 2022
Revised: May 3, 2022
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. §§17:81, 42:15
Board minutes, 8-6-19, 4-5-22, 5-3-22
Avoyelles Parish School Board