• 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.

    Sign up process

    To be eligible to speak, speakers must sign up online using one of the forms below. Sign-up starts at 11:30 a.m. on the day of the meeting and ends 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 time

    During the public comment, you may speak for up to three minutes. You will see a yellow light at the podium when you have 30 seconds remaining, then a red light when your time is up. 

    Speaking order

    At regular Board meetings, speakers commenting on items on the night's agenda will be heard before speakers commenting on other topics. All other speakers will be heard in order of sign-up.

    If the public comment portion of the agenda exceeds 30 minutes, the board chair reserves the right to conduct other board business before inviting the remaining speakers to the podium.

    Special public hearings

    Special public hearings will be called for student assignment plans, budget proposals and others. Members of the public will be allowed to speak for a predetermined amount of time at public hearings, usually two minutes. If the Board formally proposes any change that includes families not affected by the original proposal, then those families will be given an opportunity to speak. As a rule, the Board does not hear comments on student assignment at regular meetings.

    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.