How can community members participate in board meetings?
How can I make my public comment?
In person Comments
You can make a public comment in person during the designated time at the board meeting. If your comment relates to an item on the board agenda, you will be called to address the board at the time the item is heard by the board. If your comment relates to a topic that is not specifically listed on the agenda, you will be called to speak during “Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items.”
To make a comment at the board meeting, submit a speaker card to the board secretary before the agenda item is considered. During the board meeting, public speakers will be identified to comment in the order by which they entered the queue.
In-person comments are limited to a maximum of three minutes per person and donations of time are not permitted. Not all individuals who complete a speaker card will be guaranteed time to speak if the public comment period exceeds 20 minutes. Members of the public may wish to submit a written comment, as described below, to ensure their comments are provided to the board.
When the president invites you to address the board, approach the podium and introduce yourself. All comments should be addressed to the board, not to members of the public. The board is not able to respond your comments. Public comment will not be accepted after the board has begun deliberating on an item.
Email Comments
Members of the public may submit written comments through our online public-comment submission form, which is active once the agenda is published. Written comments may be submitted up until the consideration of an agenda item. Only one written public comment per item shall be submitted by a member of the public.
All written comments will be provided to each board member and made available on the San Diego County Office of Education website in lieu of being read aloud at the meeting. Any written comments received after the agenda item has been considered may not be included in the online posting of timely submitted written comments but may be maintained as a public record.
Is public comment allowed at special meetings and closed session meetings?
Special Meeting
You cannot address the board on a non-agenda item during a special meeting. If you wish to address the board on an agenda item, you can submit a request and you will be called to address the board once the board gets to the agenda item but before the board discusses or deliberates the item.
Closed Session
If you wish to address the board on an item on a closed session item, you can submit a request and you will be called to address the board during the open session of the meeting prior to the board adjourning to closed session.
