As defined by law, an official
meeting of the Board includes any meeting, assembly or gathering together at
any time or place or the simultaneous communication by conference telephone
or other electronic means of a majority of the members of a public body for
the purpose of conducting hearings, participating in deliberations, or voting
upon or otherwise transacting the public business of the public body. A. Types of Meetings 1.
While the Board is determined
to operate efficiently, it also is mindful of the importance of thoughtful
planning and discussion prior to taking formal action. 2.
Regular meetings will be held
at a predetermined time and place to conduct the business of the Board. 3.
In addition, the Board may hold
emergency meetings, work sessions, retreats, public hearings or other special
meetings as it deems necessary to act in a timely manner and provide its
members and executive staff with the opportunity to have an exchange of ideas
and receive input from other staff, parents, students and the community. B. Regular Meetings 1.
The regular meetings of the
Board shall generally be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. When those days fall on a holiday recognized
by the Board, the Chair shall reschedule the meeting for another day. 2. The Board of Education shall adopt a
schedule of regular meetings at the beginning of each school year. The schedule of regular meetings shall be posted
for public information. 3. The regular meetings of the Board shall
usually be held in the Board room of the administrative
offices of the Wake County Board of Education at 3600 Road,
4. The regular meeting of the Board shall
usually begin at 3:00 p.m. and shall end by 11:00 p.m. 5. Any item of new business remaining on the
agenda at 11:00 p.m. may be carried over to
the next regular meeting unless the time is extended by a majority vote of
the Board. 6. The Chair may
reschedule or cancel regular Board meetings when it appears unlikely that a quorum will be present on the regularly scheduled
date. If it becomes necessary to
change the usual date, place, or time of a regular meeting of the Board, notice of such change shall be given to
members of the Board and the media as provided in Policy 1320. 7. The regular monthly meetings of the Board shall
be action meetings. At any action meeting, the Board
may consider and act on any item placed on the Board agenda. 8. The agenda for action meetings shall include
a consent agenda that lists items to be passed with a
single motion and vote without discussion. Any item on the consent agenda may be removed by request of any
Board member or the Superintendent and shall then be placed on action agenda for
consideration by the Board or referred to a committee. 9. The agenda for an action meeting shall also
include action items and information items. 10. By the votes of a majority of
its members present, the Board may hold or retire to a closed session for one or more of the
permissible reasons listed in the Open Meetings Law. C.
Special Meetings 1.
After consultation with the
Superintendent, the Chair or any two members of the Board may call a special meeting for
action consideration of any item requiring such a meeting. 2. Generally only items designated in the call
of the meeting shall be considered at a
special
meeting. 3.
New items may only be added to
the agenda of a special meeting with the vote of at least six Board members. 4. Reasonable notice of such meetings shall be
provided all Board members, the press, and the public. In
no case shall the notice be less than forty-eight (48) hours. D. Emergency Meetings 1. The
Chair, in consultation with the Board Attorney, may call an emergency meeting
of the Board to consider any emergency
situation created by generally unexpected circumstances
that require immediate consideration by the Board. 2.
Board members, the public and the media shall receive notice of an
emergency meeting as far in advance as reasonable
under the circumstances of the emergency situation. Please refer to Board Policy 1320
Notification of Board Meetings. 3.
The Chair, in consultation with the Board Attorney, will call an
emergency meeting when (a) two members
so request; or (b) the Chairperson determines that the meeting is necessary. 4. Only business
related to the emergency may be considered at an emergency meeting. 1. The second regular meeting in June of each
year shall be considered the annual meeting at which time the Board shall elect
such officers and take such other actions as are
necessary. 2. Necessary action at the annual meeting shall
include election of the Board Chair and Vice Chair and the appointment of the Board
Attorney. 3. At the close of the annual
meeting, the Board may then go into session for the regular action meeting. F.
Other Activities of the Board (Joint Meetings, Work Sessions, and Workshops) 1.
Retreats and workshops are meetings that may be scheduled in order to
give the Board more time to deliberate or evaluate issues. 2.
The Chair, or the Vice-Chair, if the Chair is unable or unwilling to
act, will call a retreat or workshop upon a majority vote of the Board. G.
Public Hearings 1. The Board may from time to time, in
accordance with law and its policy, conduct a public hearing on a given
subject. 2. The purpose of a public hearing shall be to
determine public sentiment on a matter
that merits Board consideration. 3. In
order to gain maximum benefit from a public hearing, the Board’s role shall
be as listeners rather than as active participants. 4. If the Board conducts a public hearing on
an issue the Chair may prohibit public comment on that issue at regular Board
meetings. H. Hearing Panels 1. In
cases of appeals regarding such matters as student assignments, student
discipline cases, and personnel and student grievances, the Board may create
hearing panels to conduct hearings. 2. The
panels shall be composed of at least two, preferably three Board members. 3. Except in the case of student assignment
appeals, the panels may hear and act on such appeals on behalf of the Board.
In student assignment appeals, the panel shall make a recommendation to the
full Board for final action. 4. The hearing panel may suspend Board policy,
if necessary, in rendering a final decision.
5. The
hearings may be conducted in closed session to the extent permitted by law. I. Decisions by the Board of Education 1. Official decisions of the Board can only be made
at duly constituted Board meetings. These meetings
include regular meetings, special meetings, emergency meetings and
annual meetings. 2. An individual Board member or groups of
Board members do not have independent authority to speak for the Board and should make no out-of-meeting
commitments unless directed to do so on behalf of the Board. |