Meetings of the Governing Board are conducted for the purpose of accomplishing district business. In accordance with state open meeting laws (Brown Act), the Governing Board shall hold its meetings in public and shall conduct closed sessions during such meetings only as authorized by law. To encourage community involvement in the schools, board meetings shall provide opportunities for comments by members of the public. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with law and the Governing Board's bylaws, policies, and administrative regulations.
\n\nA board meeting exists whenever a majority of Governing Board members gather at the same time and location, including teleconference location as permitted by Government Code 54953, to hear, discuss, deliberate, or take action upon any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Governing Board. (Government Code 54952.2)
\n\nA majority of the Governing Board shall not, outside of an authorized meeting, use a series of communications of any kind, directly or through intermediaries, including social media and other electronic communications, to discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Governing Board. (Government Code 54952.2)
\n\nHowever, an employee or district official may engage in separate conversations or communications with Governing Board members in order to answer questions or provide information regarding an item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Governing Board, as long as that employee or district official does not communicate the comments or position of any Governing Board members to other Governing Board members. (Government Code 54952.2)
\n\nIn order to help ensure participation in the meeting by individuals with disabilities, the Superintendent or designee shall provide appropriate disability-related accommodations or modifications upon request in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any doubt about a request for accommodation shall be resolved in favor of accessibility. (Government Code 54953, 54953.2, 54954.1, 54954.2)
\n\nNotice of the procedure for receiving and resolving requests for accommodation described above shall be given in each instance in which notice of the time of a meeting is otherwise given or the agenda for the meeting is otherwise posted. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nRegular Meetings
\n\nThe Governing Board shall hold two regular meetings each month. Typically, during the months of August through June, regular meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the School District Office or at a school site. Holidays and scheduling conflicts may require the Governing Board to adjust this schedule.
\n\nAt least 72 hours prior to a regular meeting, the agenda shall be posted at one or more locations freely accessible to members of the public and on the district's web site. (Government Code 54954.2)
\n
\nWhenever agenda materials relating to an open session of a regular meeting are distributed to the Governing Board less than 72 hours before the meeting, the Superintendent or designee shall 1make the materials available for public inspection at a public office or location designated for that purpose or on the district web site, consistent with Government Code 54957.5, at the time the materials are distributed to all or a majority of the Governing Board. (Government Code 54957.5)
Special Meetings
\n\nSpecial meetings of the Governing Board may be called at any time by the presiding officer or a majority of the Governing Board members. However, a special meeting shall not be called regarding the salary, salary schedule, or other compensation of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, or other management employees as described in Government Code 3511.1. (Government Code 54956)
\n\nWritten notice of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by any other means to all Governing Board members and the local media who have requested such notice in writing. The notice also shall be posted on the district's web site. The notice shall be received at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting. The notice shall also be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting in a location freely accessible to the public. The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed. No other business shall be considered at this meeting. (Education Code 35144; Government Code 54956)
\n\nAny Governing Board member may waive the 24-hour written notice requirement prior to the time of the meeting by filing a written waiver of notice with the clerk or secretary of the Governing Board or by being present at the meeting at the time it convenes. (Education Code 35144; Government Code 54956)
\n\nEvery notice of a special meeting shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the Governing Board concerning any item that has been described in the meeting notice, before or during the item's consideration. (Government Code 54954.3)
\n\nEmergency Meetings
\n\nIn the case of an emergency situation for which prompt action is necessary due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, the Governing Board may hold an emergency meeting without complying with the 24-hour notice and/or 24-hour posting requirement for special meetings pursuant to Government Code 54956. The Governing Board shall comply with all other requirements for special meetings during an emergency meeting. (Government Code 54956.5)
\n\nAn emergency situation means either of the following: Government Code 54956.5)
\n\nExcept in the case of a dire emergency, the Governing Board president or designee shall give notice of the emergency meeting by telephone at least one hour before the meeting to the local media that have requested notice of special meetings. All telephone numbers provided by the media in the most recent request for notification shall be exhausted. If telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirement of one hour is waived and, as soon after the meeting as possible, the Governing Board shall notify those media representatives of the meeting and shall describe the purpose of the meeting and any action taken by the Governing Board. In the case of a dire emergency, the Governing Board president or designee shall give such notice at or near the time he/she notifies the other members of the Governing Board about the meeting. (Government Code 54956.5)
\n\nThe minutes of the meeting, a list of persons the Governing Board president or designee notified or attempted to notify, a copy of the roll call vote, and any actions taken at the meeting shall be posted for at least 10 days in a public place as soon after the meeting as possible. (Government Code 54956.5)
\n\nAdjourned/Continued Meetings
\n\nA majority vote by the Governing Board may adjourn/continue any regular or special meeting to a later time and place that shall be specified in the order of adjournment. Less than a quorum of the Governing Board may adjourn such a meeting. If no Governing Board members are present, the secretary or the clerk may declare the meeting adjourned to a later time and place and shall give notice in the same manner required for special meetings. (Government Code 54955)
\n\nWithin 24 hours after the time of adjournment, a copy of the order or notice of adjournment/continuance shall be conspicuously posted on or near the door of the place where the meeting was held. (Government Code 54955)
\n\nStudy Sessions, Retreats, Public Forums, and Discussion Meetings
\n\nThe Governing Board may occasionally convene a study session or public forum to study an issue in more detail or to receive information from staff or feedback from members of the public.
\n\nThe Governing Board may also convene a retreat or discussion meeting to discuss Governing Board roles and relationships.
\n\nPublic notice following the procedures of the regular meetings shall be given in accordance with law when a quorum of the Governing Board is attending a study session, retreat, public forum, or discussion meeting. All such meetings shall comply with the Brown Act and shall be held in open session and within district boundaries. Action items shall not be included on the agenda for these meetings.
\n\nOther Gatherings
\n\nAttendance by a majority of Governing Board members at any of the following events is not subject to the Brown Act provided that a majority of the Governing Board members do not discuss specific district business among themselves other than as part of the scheduled program: (Government Code 54952.2)
\n\nIndividual contacts or conversations between a Governing Board member and any other person are not subject to the Brown Act. (Government Code 54952.2)
\n\nLocation of Meetings
\n\nMeetings shall not be held in a facility that prohibits the admittance of any person on the basis of ancestry or any characteristic listed in Government Code 11135. In addition, meetings shall not be held in a facility which is inaccessible to individuals with disabilities or where members of the public must make a payment or purchase in order to be admitted. (Government Code 54961)
\n\nMeetings shall be held within district boundaries, except to do any of the following: (Government Code 54954)
\n\n\n\n
Meetings exempted from the boundary requirements, as specified in Items #1-10 above, shall still be subject to the notice and open meeting requirements for regular and special meetings when a quorum of the Governing Board attends the meeting.
\n\nIf a fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency renders the regular meeting place unsafe, meetings shall be held for the duration of the emergency at a place designated by the Governing Board president or designee, who shall so inform all news media who have requested notice of special meetings by the most rapid available means of communication. (Government Code 54954)
\n\nTraditional Teleconferencing
\n\nA teleconference is a meeting of the Governing Board in which Governing Board members are in different locations, connected by electronic means through audio and/or video. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nAll teleconferenced meetings shall be conducted in a manner that protects the statutory and constitutional rights of the parties or the public appearing before the Governing Board. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nThe Governing Board may use teleconferences for all purposes in connection with any meeting within the Governing Board's subject matter jurisdiction.
\n\nAll votes taken during a teleconference meeting shall be by roll call. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nDuring the teleconference, at least a quorum of the members of the Governing Board shall participate from locations within district boundaries. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nUnless a Governing Board member participates by teleconference pursuant to the provisions described in the sections “Teleconferencing During a Personal Emergency,” “Teleconferencing For ‘Just Cause’” or “Teleconferencing During a Proclaimed State of Emergency” below, agendas shall be posted at all teleconference locations and shall list all teleconference locations whenever they are posted elsewhere.
\n\nAll teleconference locations shall be accessible to the public and the public shall have the right to address the Governing Board directly at each teleconference location. Additional teleconference locations may be provided to the public. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nTeleconferencing During a Personal Emergency
\n\nUntil January 1, 2026, with approval from the majority of the Governing Board, a Governing Board member may be permitted to participate in a meeting remotely when a physical or family medical emergency prevents the Governing Board member from attending in person. The Governing Board member requesting to appear remotely shall notify the Governing Board of the emergency situation as soon as possible, and provide a concise general description of the circumstances relating to the Governing Board member’s need to appear remotely. The Governing Board member shall not be required to disclose any disability, medical diagnosis, or personal medical information exempt under existing law. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nA Governing Board member may not appear remotely under emergency circumstances for more than 20 percent of the Governing Board’s regular meetings or for more than three consecutive months. If the Governing Board meets less than 10 times in a calendar year, a Governing Board member may not appear remotely under emergency circumstances for more than two meetings. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nWhen a Governing Board member is approved to participate remotely due to emergency circumstances, the Governing Board member is not required to participate from a location which is accessible to the public and the location does not need to be identified on the agenda. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nIf permitted to participate remotely, the Governing Board member shall utilize both audio and visual technology and publicly disclose, before any action is taken, whether any other individuals 18 years or older are present in the remote location with the Governing Board member, and the general nature of the member’s relationship with such individuals. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nThe district shall also provide public access to the meeting via a two-way audiovisual platform or a two-way audio service and a live webcast, with public comment being allowed via the remote platform as well as in person and the public shall be able to offer comments in real time. The agenda shall include information describing how members of the public can access the platform. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nIf a disruption prevents broadcasting the meeting to members of the public using the call-in option or internet-based service option, or a disruption that is within the Governing Board’s control prevents members of the public from offering public comments using the call-in option or internet-based service option, the Governing Board shall not take action on agenda items until public access to the meeting is restored. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nTeleconferencing for “Just Cause”
\n\nA Governing Board member may be permitted to appear remotely, pursuant to the provisions below, for just cause for no more than two meetings per calendar year. A Governing Board member appearing for just cause shall notify the Governing Board at the earliest possible opportunity of the need to participate in the meeting remotely, including at the start of a regular meeting. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nJust Cause may exist for any of the following: (Government Code 54953)
\n\nWhen a Governing Board member participates remotely for just cause, the Governing Board member is not required to participate from a location which is accessible to the public and the location does not need to be identified on the agenda. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nIf the Governing Board member participates remotely, the Governing Board member shall utilize both audio and visual technology and publicly disclose, before any action is taken, whether any other individuals 18 years or older are present in the remote location with the Governing Board member, and the general nature of the member’s relationship with such individuals. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nThe district shall also provide public access to the meeting via a two-way audiovisual platform or a two-way audio service and a live webcast, with public comment being allowed via the remote platform as well as in person and the public shall be able to offer comments in real time. The agenda shall include information describing how members of the public can access the platform. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nIf a disruption prevents broadcasting the meeting to members of the public using the call-in option or internet-based service option, or a disruption that is within the Governing Board’s control prevents members of the public from offering public comments using the call-in option or internet-based service option, the Governing Board shall not take action on agenda items until public access to the meeting is restored. (Government Code 54953)
\n\nTeleconferencing During a Proclaimed State of Emergency
\n
\nUntil January 1, 2024, the Governing Board may conduct Governing Board meetings by teleconference without posting agendas at all teleconference locations, identifying teleconference locations in meeting notices and agendas, allowing public access to each teleconference location, providing an opportunity for members of the public to address the Governing Board directly at each teleconference location, and ensuring that at least a quorum of the Governing Board participate from locations within district boundaries, during a proclaimed state of emergency pursuant to Government Code 8625-8629 in any of the following circumstances: (Government Code 54953)
To conduct a teleconference meeting for these purposes the following requirements shall be satisfied: (Government Code 54953)
\n\n\n\n
The district may, in its discretion, provide a physical location from which the public may attend or comment. (Government Code 54953)
\n
\nThe Governing Board may continue to conduct meetings by teleconference, as specified above for teleconferencing during proclaimed states of emergency, by a majority vote finding within 30 days after teleconferencing for the first time, and every 30 days thereafter, that either: (Government Code 54953)