FILE:  BCBD

Cf:  BCBB, BCBI

AGENDA PREPARATION AND DISSEMINATION

The Washington Parish School Board President shall direct the Superintendent to prepare, or cause to be prepared, an agenda for all regular School Board meetings.  Items of business may be suggested by School Board members, administrative staff, employees, school patrons, or lay citizens of the school district for inclusion on the agenda.  The agenda shall not be changed less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, prior to the scheduled time of the meeting.

Each item on the agenda shall be listed separately and described with reasonable specificity.  Before the School Board may take any action on the agenda item, the presiding officer shall read aloud the description of the item.

A request to be considered for a place on the agenda by any group or indi­vidual other than a School Board member shall be filed in writing with the Superintendent at least five (5) working days prior to the next School Board meeting.  Any material to be used must be submitted at the time of request.  Citizens of the school system shall be given special consideration for addressing the School Board.

The School Board shall give written public notice of its regular meetings at the beginning of each calendar year.  Such notice shall include the dates, times and place of such meetings.

The School Board shall give written public notice of any regular, special, or rescheduled meeting no later than twenty-four hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, prior to the scheduled time of the meeting.  Such notice shall include the agenda, date, time, and place of the meeting.

Following the above information, there shall, also, be attached to the written public notice of the meeting, whether or not such matters will be discussed in an executive session held pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §42:17, and, if so:  (1)  A statement identifying the court, case number, and the parties relative to any pending litigation to be considered at the meeting; (2) A statement identifying the parties involved and reasonably identifying the subject matter of any prospective litigation for which formal written demand has been made that is to be considered at the meeting.

In cases of extraordinary emergency, such notice shall not be required; however, the School Board shall give notice of the meeting as it deems appropriate and circumstances permit.

Written public notice shall include, but need not be limited to:  (a) Posting a copy of the notice at the principal office of the School Board or by publication of the notice in an official journal of the public body no less than twenty-four hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, prior to the scheduled time of the meeting; (b) Mailing a copy of the notice to any member of the news media who requests notice of such meetings.  Any such member of the news media shall be given notice of all meetings in the same manner as is given to members of the School Board.

Items of business not on the agenda may not be suggested from the floor for discussion except upon unanimous approval of the School Board members present at a meeting. The motion to add an item not on the agenda shall identify the item with reasonable specificity, including the purpose for the proposed addition to the agenda, and shall be entered into the minutes.  In keeping with state law and School Board policy, prior to any vote to add an item to the agenda, there shall be an opportunity for public comment on the motion.

The order of business shall be as established by School Board practice.

All School Board meeting materials and supporting data shall be disseminated to the members of the School Board so that they are received no later than 24 hours prior to any School Board meeting, whenever possible.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§42:17, 42:19

Jackson v. Assumption Parish School Board, App. 1 Cir. 1995, 652 So2d 549, 1994-0901 (La. App. 1 Circ. 3/3/95)

Board minutes, 5-2-91, 10-14-93, 10-9-08, 12-6-12, 12-11-14

Washington Parish School Board