Meeting Procedures
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\nAll Governing Board meetings shall begin on time and shall be guided by an agenda prepared in accordance with Governing Board bylaws and posted and distributed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (open meeting requirements) and other applicable laws.
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\nThe Governing Board president shall conduct Governing Board meetings in accordance with Governing Board bylaws and procedures that enable the Governing Board to efficiently consider issues and carry out the will of the majority.
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\nThe Governing Board believes that late night meetings deter public participation, can affect the Governing Board's decision-making ability, and can be a burden to staff. Regular Governing Board meetings shall be adjourned by 10:30 p.m. unless extended to a specific time determined by a majority of the Governing Board. The meeting shall be extended no more than once and, if necessary, may subsequently be adjourned to a later date.
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\nQuorum and Abstentions
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\nThe Governing Board shall act by majority vote of all of the membership constituting the Governing Board. (Education Code 35164)
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\nThe Governing Board believes that when no conflict of interest requires abstention, its members have a duty to vote on issues before them. When a member abstains, his/her abstention shall not be counted for purposes of determining whether a majority of the membership of the Governing Board has taken action.
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\nProvided the Governing Board typically has five members and there are no more than two vacancies on the Governing Board, the vacant position(s) shall not be counted for purposes of determining how many members of the Governing Board constitute a majority. In addition, whenever any provisions of the Education Code require unanimous action of all or a specific number of the members, the vacant position(s) shall not be counted for purposes of determining the total membership constituting the Governing Board. (Education Code 35165)
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\nPublic Participation
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\nMembers of the public are encouraged to attend Governing Board meetings and to address the Governing Board concerning any item on the agenda or within the Governing Board's jurisdiction. So as not to inhibit public participation, persons attending Governing Board meetings shall not be requested to sign in, complete a questionnaire, or otherwise provide their name or other information as a condition of attending the meeting, except that if the meeting is conducted using remote public participation or with a Governing Board member attending remotely pursuant to Government Code 54953, a member of the public desiring to provide comment through the use of a third party internet website or online platform may be required to register as required by the third party provider.
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\nIn order to conduct district business in an orderly and efficient manner, the Governing Board requires that public presentations to the Governing Board comply with the following procedures:
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The Governing Board president or designee may remove an individual for actually disrupting the meeting. Prior to removal, the individual shall be warned that their behavior is disrupting the meeting and that failure to cease the disruptive behavior may result in removal. If, after being warned, the individual does not promptly cease the disruptive behavior, the Governing Board president, or designee, may then remove the individual from the meeting. (Government Code 54957.95)
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\n When an individual's behavior constitutes the use of force or a true threat of force, the individual shall be removed from a Governing Board meeting without a warning. (Government Code 54957.95)
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\nDisrupting means engaging in behavior during a Governing Board meeting that actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting and includes, but is not limited to, a failure to comply with reasonable and lawful regulations adopted by a legislative body pursuant to Section 54954.3 or any other law, or engaging in behavior that constitutes use of force or a true threat of force. (Government Code 54957.95)
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\nTrue threat of force means a threat that has sufficient indicia of intent and seriousness, that a reasonable observer would perceive it to be an actual threat to use force by the person making the threat. (Government Code 54957.95)
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\n Additionally, the Governing Board may order the room cleared if necessary. In this case, members of the media not participating in the disturbance shall be allowed to remain, and individuals not participating in such disturbances may be allowed to remain at the discretion of the Governing Board. When the room is ordered cleared due to a disturbance, further Governing Board proceedings shall concern only matters appearing on the agenda. (Government Code 54957.9)
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\nWhen disruptive conduct occurs, the Governing Board may decide to recess the meeting to help restore order, or if removing the disruptive individual(s) or clearing the room is infeasible, move the meeting to another location. The Governing Board may direct the Superintendent or designee to contact local law enforcement as necessary.
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\nRecording by the Public
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\nMembers of the public may record an open Governing Board meeting using an audio or video recorder, still or motion picture camera, cell phone, or other device, provided that the noise, illumination, or obstruction of view does not persistently disrupt the meeting. The Superintendent or designee shall designate locations from which members of the public may broadcast, photograph, or tape record open meetings without causing a distraction.
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\nIf the Governing Board finds that noise, illumination, or obstruction of view related to these activities would persistently disrupt the proceedings, these activities shall be discontinued or restricted as determined by the Governing Board. (Government Code 54953.5, 54953.6)