- Wake County Public School System
- Speaking/Attending Board Meetings
-
Speaking/Attending Board Meetings
The Board of Education holds regular meetings, open to the public, as indicated on the board’s calendar. Meetings are held at the district’s offices at 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary, unless indicated otherwise on the meeting schedule. All board meetings, work sessions, and committee meetings are live-streamed on the WCPSS YouTube channel.
Public comments are scheduled at each regular meeting. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes. Speakers for the November 12, 2024 public hearing on the 2025-26 enrollment plan will be allotted two minutes.
Sign up process
To be eligible to speak, speakers must sign up online using one of the forms below. Sign-up forms will be posted at 11:30 a.m. on the day of the meeting and close at 4:30 p.m. Speakers must provide their name, city of residence, and the topic of their comments. Speakers may also sign up in person by visiting the district’s office at 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary, during the designated times listed above. Speakers must attend the meeting in person.
-
Speaking Protocols
Speakers are welcome to offer comments or criticism directed at substantive ideas, actions, or procedures of the Board and individual Board members. In the interest of maintaining civility and decorum, however, speakers are encouraged to refrain from personal attacks and insults directed at the Board, individual Board members, staff, or members of the general public.
The laws and policies of North Carolina provide that issues or concerns involving individual personnel matters are confidential, and, therefore, not appropriate for public comment settings. Concerns related to personnel issues may be addressed through appropriate WCPSS personnel, the grievance policy, or other applicable policies.
Speakers, including students, may discuss issues and matters of general concern but should refrain from discussing confidential student information. Concerns related to confidential student matters may be addressed through applicable WCPSS personnel, the grievance policy or other applicable policies.
Speakers who bring posters or signs to the podium must remove them after speaking.
Special accommodations
Anyone who requires disability accommodations is encouraged to contact Melissa Allen at mrallen@wcpss.net prior to the day of the meeting.
COVID protocols
Face coverings are recommended but not required for those attending Board of Education meetings.
Meeting protocols and standards
Wake County Board of Education meetings are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the official business of the school system. The public is cordially invited to attend Board meetings to observe the Board as it conducts its official business. Per Policy 2310: “Persons who willfully interrupt, disrupt, or cause disturbances at an official meeting may be directed to leave by the presiding officer. Members of the audience should show respect for the speakers by refraining from loud comments or other disruptions. Disruptions by any person or persons at a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.17."
G.S. 143-318.17: “A person who willfully interrupts, disturbs, or disrupts an official meeting and who, upon being directed to leave the meeting by the presiding officer, willfully refuses to leave the meeting is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.” Penalties for disruption include being directed to leave board meetings by the presiding officer and exclusion from school property.