Board Rules Database Results...
Rule Number: 131
Rule Title: ORAL PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD.
Rule Text: Any person as an individual, or as a representative of a group, shall be granted permission to address the Board of Education by oral presentation at a regular meeting of the Board concerning any subject that lies within the jurisdiction of the Board, provided the requirements and procedures herein set forth are observed: A. A request to address the Board shall be made to the Board Secretariat before 10:00 a.m. of the day of the meeting of the Board at which the oral presentation is to be made. Those requesting to be placed on the Speakers’ List may be included on no more than two lists at any time. Telephonic communication of such a request is permissible, as long as a speaker's card confirming this request is filed with the Board Secretariat prior to the presentation. Information on the card shall include name, address, and telephone number of the person wishing to speak, name of group represented, if any, and a concise statement describing the exact nature of the subject or subjects to be discussed. B. There shall be no more than fifteen (15) speakers at any regular meeting of the Board on issues not before the Board for action that day. (Time allocated is covered in Board Rule 135). The number of speakers on any one topic or any agenda item shall be limited to seven (7) except as provided below. 1. When there are speakers in opposition to each other on a topic, an attempt shall be made to balance the presentations. 2. Speakers making a presentation on an item on the Board agenda must constrain their remarks specifically to that item or be ruled out of order. Persistence in making remarks causing such a ruling shall be grounds for summary termination, by the Chair, of that person’s privilege of address. 3. The allotted number of speakers addressing issues not before the Board for action that day shall be filled in the order requests are made. However, priority in the order of such speakers addressing the Board shall be given to persons who have not previously addressed the Board at the two immediately preceding Board meetings. 4. There is nothing which precludes the Board from amending these rules when necessary. C. The President, with concurrence of the Board, may call a special meeting for the sole purpose of hearing speakers. D. The Board urges that charges and complaints against Los Angeles Unified School District personnel or employees be submitted to Board in writing. This allows the Board to more carefully examine the complaint and to initiate an investigation when necessary. If a complaint is made orally, the Board may request that the individual making the complaint provide additional information to facilitate an investigation. The Board may also afford the District employee, about whom a complaint is made, the opportunity to respond either orally or in writing at the same time or subsequent Board meeting. E. Oral presentations to the Board are subject to further provisions contained in Board Rules132 to 139. F. At any hearing there shall be a limit of 40 speakers (unless otherwise directed by the Board in the public notice) listed in the order received, except that an attempt shall be made to alternate points of view "pro" and "con" speakers if at all possible. The opportunity shall be provided upon request, for an exclusive representative of each of the District’s collective bargaining units to address the Board at the hearing as part of the 40 speakers. If there are multiple hearings on the same topic, a speaker may be permitted to address the Board a second time only after everyone who has sought a first opportunity to speak has been accommodated. G. The Board may deviate from the scheduled Order of Business and establish a time certain to hear speakers to non agenda items and Miscellaneous Business or any other item on the Order of Business. Speakers will be notified of such a time when they make their requests to address the Board with the Board Secretariat. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Rule, courtesy will be extended to elected officials of other jurisdictions. The President may deviate from the scheduled Order of Business and waive the normal three-minute limit as necessary to accommodate elected officials who wish to address the Board. (Amended 2-26-02)
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