Board meetings will be scheduled 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 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in the district office or at other times and places as determined by the presiding officer or by majority vote of the board. An agenda of business to be transacted must be posted on the district website not less than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the published start time of the meeting, unless the district does not have a website or employs fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees.
If regular meetings are to be held at places other than the district office, or are adjourned to times other than a regular meeting time, notice of the meeting will be made in the same manner as provided for special meetings. All regular meetings of the board will be held within the district boundaries.
Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the chair/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 or by mail, facsimile or electronic mail. The notice must be posted on the district’s website unless the district 1) does not have a website, 2) employs fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees; or 3) does not have an employee whose job description or employment contract provides a duty to maintain or update the 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.
All required notices must be delivered or posted not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.
The written notice requirement will be deemed waived if a 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 electronic mail; or
- Is actually present at the time the meeting convenes.
Final disposition will not be taken on any matter other than those items stated in the meeting notice.
Emergency Meetings
In the event of an emergency involving fire, flood, earthquake, possible personal injury or property damage, the board may meet immediately and take official action without prior notification.
Public Notice
Public notice will be properly given for any special meeting; whenever a regular meeting is adjourned to another time; or, when a regular meeting is to be held at a place other than the district office.
All meetings will be open to the public with the exception of executive or closed sessions authorized by law. Final action resulting from executive session discussions will be taken during a meeting open to the public as required by law.
Individuals with disabilities who may need a modification to participate in 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
Three board members will be considered as constituting a quorum for the transaction of business.
Meeting Conduct and Order of Business
All board meetings will be conducted in an orderly and business-like manner using Roberts Rules of Order (Revised) as a guide, except when such rules are superseded by board bylaws or policies. The order of business will be that indicated in the agenda. Any additions or changes in the prepared agenda may be requested by the superintendent or a board member and must be approved by majority vote of the board members present. At a special meeting final action may be taken only on that business contained in the notice of the special meeting.
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—including videoconference or teleconference– that provides, at a minimum, simultaneous aural communication between those present, provided: 1) the meeting is properly noticed with any required passwords or authorization codes; 2) the meeting is accessible to the public; 3) the meeting accommodates any member of the public who wishes to participate and 4) the communication platform is generally known and accessible to the public.
The board will establish its regular order of business, but may elect to change the order by a majority vote of the members present. All votes on motions and resolutions will be by “voice” vote unless an oral roll call vote is requested by a member of the board. All votes will be approved by majority of those present and voting, unless otherwise required by law. No action will be taken by secret ballot at any meeting required to be open to the public.
An oral roll call vote of all the members of the board is required for the election of board officers, filling a vacancy on the board, or for the selection of the school district superintendent, and a majority vote of all the members of the board is required for any person to be elected or selected for such positions.
During board meetings, board members will refrain from communicating electronically (e.g., by e-mail, text, social media) with their fellow board members.
Public Comment
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 such comment, the board will provide a period at the beginning of the meeting during which visitors may present to the board. If possible, such presentations should be scheduled in advance.
The board will also allow individuals to express an opinion prior to board action on agenda items that the board determines require or will benefit from public comment. Written and oral comment will be accepted by the board before the adoption or amendment of policies not expressly or by implication authorized by state of federal law, but which will promote the education of kindergarten through twelfth grade students in public schools or will promote the effective, efficient or safe management and operation of the district. Individuals wishing to be heard by the board will first be recognized by the chair/president.
Individuals, after identifying themselves, will proceed to make comments within the time limits established by the board. Any representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the board will also be entitled to express an opinion. The chair/president may interrupt or terminate an individual’s statement when it is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, or irrelevant. The board as a whole has the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings.
| Cross References: | 1420 – Proposed Agenda and Consent Agenda |
| 1410 – Executive or Closed Sessions | |
| 1220 – Board Officers and Duties of Board Members | |
| 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 | |
| Management Resources: | 2014 – June Issue |
| 2013 – April Issue | |
| 2012 – June Issue | |
| Policy News, June 2005 Special Meeting Notice Requirements | |
Adoption Date: 7.17
Classification: Essential
WSSDA 06.14
PROCEDURE MEETING CONDUCT, ORDER OF BUSINESS AND QUORUM
All meetings, including study sessions and retreats, must be advertised as meetings that are open to the public. If a board wishes to devote all or most of a special meeting to an issue(s) to be discussed in executive session (Policy 1410), the special meeting should be called to order and recessed to an executive session. The purpose of the executive session should be announced and recorded in the minutes (e.g., real estate matters, litigation).
All regular meetings must be held within the district boundaries. Special meetings may be held outside the district with proper notice of the time and location.
Meeting Notices
A regular meeting does not require a public notice if held at the time and place provided by board policy. If the board does not meet at its regular location, the meeting should be treated as a special meeting with proper notice to the press stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting. Each director should receive a printed or electronic copy of the agenda at least three days in advance of the meeting.
For special meetings, a district is required to notify newspapers and radio and television stations which have filed a request for such notification. Written notice must also be provided to each school director 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice to a director is deemed waived if the director files a written notice of waiver with the board secretary before or at the time of the commencement of the meeting or by the director’s actual attendance at the meeting.
The notice of the meeting must also be posted on the district’s website, the door of the main district offices and the door at the location of the meeting if it is different from the district’s offices. The district does not have to post on its website if it: (1) doesn’t have one; (2) employs fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees; or (3) does not have an employee whose job description or employment contract provides a duty to maintain or update the website.
All public notices of board meetings should inform persons with disabilities that they may contact the superintendent’s office so that arrangements can be made for them to participate in board meetings.
Each director should receive a printed or electronic copy of the agenda twenty-four hours in advance of the meeting. While other items of business may be discussed at a special meeting, no final action can be taken on topics which have not been identified on the printed agenda. If an item is to be discussed in executive session in accordance with Policy 1410, the item of business must also appear on the agenda if final action is to be taken following the executive session.
No meeting notice is required when the board is acting as a quasi-judicial body in a matter between named parties (e.g., hearing on discharge, nonrenewal or discipline of an employee, unless the employee requests a public meeting; hearing regarding suspension or expulsion of a student or for the purpose of planning or adopting strategy or positions to be taken in collective bargaining, grievance or mediation proceedings, or reviewing such proposals made by a bargaining unit.
Meeting Recess and Continuation
The board may recess a regular, special or recessed meeting to a specific future time. Notice of such a recess and continuation must be posted at or near the door of the meeting room. Notification to the press is not required.
Adoption Date: 7.17
Classification: Essential
WSSDA: 06.14