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9325
BYLAWS OF THE BOARD
MEETING CONDUCT
1. Meeting Conduct
A. Meetings of the Board of Education shall be conducted by the Chairperson in
a manner consistent with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act
and the adopted bylaws of the Board.
B. All Board meetings shall commence at, or as close as practicable to, the
stated Time, provided there is a quorum.
C. All regular and special Board meetings shall be guided by an agenda which
will have been prepared and delivered in advance to all Board members and
other designated persons.
D. The Board of Education may recess any regular or special meeting to a
specified time and place.
E. Protocol for meetings of the Board of Education follows parliamentary rules
and procedures as outlined by Robert’s Rules of Order.
2. Procedures for Electronic Participation
A. Board members may participate in meetings electronically (e.g., conference
call, video conferencing, etc.) under the conditions set forth herein. When
such conditions are met, any Board member participating telephonically shall
be counted for the purpose of constituting a quorum. Conditions for
participation are as follows:
1. Any Board member participating electronically must identify
themselves during roll call and again prior to their first comments or
questions. Board members are encouraged to identify themselves
prior to subsequent comments or questions. Board members shall
also identify themselves as part of any Board voting.
2. Any physical or demonstrable material that is used in the course of
the proceedings must be present in the place where the public is
located; and
3. All those in attendance at the meeting, at whatever location, must be
able to hear and identify all participants in the proceeding, including
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their individual remarks and votes.
B. When a Board member is participating in a meeting electronically, the
Chairperson shall take the necessary steps to ensure that a Board member
participating telephonically has adequate opportunity to express
himself/herself in Board discussion, including the opportunity to take the
floor and make motions.
3. Citizens’ Comments
A. The Board may permit any individual or group to address the Board concerning
any subject that lies within its jurisdiction during the portion of any Board
meetings so designated for such purpose. Citizens’ Comments shall be subject
to the following guidelines:
1. Three (3) minutes will be allotted to each speaker on each subject
matter, and a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes will be allotted to each
subject matter. The Board may decide by a majority vote to extend the
15 minutes of time allotted to each subject matter, but in no event shall
the total time allotted to each subject matter exceed 30 minutes. The 3
minutes of time allotted to each speaker cannot be extended. Time not
used by a speaker cannot be retained for later use by that speaker and
cannot be allotted to another speaker. Speakers may provide written
testimony or handouts to the Board, which will become part of the
public meeting record. Speakers are not permitted to make
presentations to the Board using PowerPoint, overhead projectors, or
other electronic/digital programs.
2. A Board of Education member shall be appointed by the Chairperson to
act as timekeeper for the meeting, if deemed necessary by the
Chairperson.
3. All speakers must identify themselves by name and address.
4. The Board will not respond to comments made during Citizens’
Comments, with the exception that the Chairperson only may respond
if, in the discretion of the Chairperson, such comments require an
immediate response.
5. The Board may not limit the subject of a citizen’s comments, except that
formal charges or formal complaints must be initiated in writing only in
accordance with Policy 1312P General Complaint Procedures.
Reasonable standards for decorum are expected.
6. No inappropriate or disrespectful conduct or personal attacks shall be
MEETING CONDUCT Page 2 of 3
permitted at any Board of Education meeting. Persistence in such
conduct shall be grounds for summary termination, by the Chairperson,
of that person's privilege of address. The Chairperson may also ask such
person to leave the meeting.
7. If a meeting of the Board of Education is interrupted by disturbances or
inappropriate or disrespectful conduct and order cannot be restored,
the Chairperson may order the room cleared and then continue with
the meeting. Members of the press and members of the public not
participating in such disturbance and/or not participating in such
inappropriate or disrespectful conduct may be allowed to remain.
4. Actions by the Board
No action will be taken at a special meeting unless the subject acted upon was listed in
the agenda published for that meeting. Additions may be made to the agenda at a
regular meeting for which action may be considered.
All motions and each member's vote taken by the Board shall be identified clearly in
minutes of the Board meeting as provided in Bylaw 9326: Minutes.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
18-a Definitions. 1-19 Access to public records. 1-21
Meetings of government agencies to be public. 1-21a
Recording, broadcasting or photographing meetings.
1-21d Adjournment of meetings. 1-21g Executive
sessions. 1-21h Conduct of meetings. 1-21i Denial of
access to public records or meetings. 10-224 Duties of
the secretary.
Bylaw adopted by the Board: November 18, 1997
Bylaw revision: January 8, 2013
Bylaw revision: August 12, 2014
Bylaw revision: August 10, 2021
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
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