PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC
The Board of Education of Baltimore County recognizes the value of public comment at Board meetings. The Board welcomes individuals and organizations to attend all public meetings of the Board and to address its members, even when those meetings are held virtually.
While the Board of Education, as articulated in Policy 8315, encourages public input on policy, programs, and practices within the purview of this Board and this school system, specific student or employee matters should not be discussed and existing dispute resolution processes should be utilized, as appropriate. Inappropriate personal remarks or other behavior that disrupts or interferes with the conduct of the meeting will be deemed out of order. Persons using language that is threatening or promotes violence against a BCPS employee are subject to legal penalties. Persons who otherwise disrupt or disturb the meeting will not be allowed to continue their remarks and will be escorted from the meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES (Updated July 11, 2023)
ACCESS TO BOARD MEETING BROADCASTS
The school system is committed to accessible communication with its stakeholders. Accordingly, the scheduled Board of Education meetings will be broadcast online through the Live Meeting Broadcast and BCPS-TV (Comcast Xfinity channel 73, Verizon FiOS channel 34).
ATTENDING THE BOARD MEETING IN PERSON
Members of the public may attend the Board meeting in person based on room capacity, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited additional seating is available in the event the Board room is at capacity; however, if no seats are available, additional attendees may not be able to enter the building until there are seats.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
The Board accepts written comments from the public, which may be e-mailed; all comments will be distributed to the Board of Education members. By sending an e-mail, submitters acknowledge that any e-mail, including the contents of the e-mail, the full name, and the e-mail address from which they are sent are subject to disclosure under the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA).
SPEAKING AT THE BOARD MEETINGS
Based on Board Policy 8315 (as amended on July 11, 2023), representatives from the following categories are invited to address the Board during the public comment period of the Board’s meetings. A maximum of five (5) spaces will be allocated in each of these categories:
- School system-affiliated groups
- Unions
- Nonprofit community groups
- Individual citizens or students
So that a diversity of viewpoints receives the opportunity to address the Board, when there are more requests than available spaces in any of these categories, first priority will be given to those groups or individuals who have not spoken during the two prior Board meeting. A wait list sign-up sheet will be available 30 minutes prior to the meeting. When the spaces reserved in any of the four designated categories are not filled, those spaces will be offered to those in attendance at the meeting, in order of sign up, for the category for which spaces remain. Note that persons must include their designated category when signing up for the wait list (only one category may be selected).
Public comment will take place in person and virtually at the meeting. Both stakeholders and those wishing to provide general public comment must register online by completing a registration form (see below), which will open one week prior to the Board meeting date and close at 3 p.m. the day before the meeting. There will be an option to join virtually or by phone on the online registration form. A link/call-in number will be provided to ONLY those members who chose the virtual/phone option.
If selected, participants will receive confirmation of their registration and public comment guidelines and procedures. Comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. No speaker substitutions will be allowed.
To register to speak at the Board meeting: REGISTRATION FORM – Board Meeting Public Comment
SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS AT MEETINGS
In accordance with recommendations from the Baltimore County Police Department’s Homeland Security Unit and the Office of School Safety, the Board has implemented the following safety and security protocols to enhance the safety of all attendees at Board meetings:
- Attendees should be seated in the room during meetings. Individuals who need to stand should go out into the hallway to do so.
- Attendees should not approach the table unless called upon to speak and should not approach the dais.
- While the Board appreciates the creativity many have shown during their presentations, materials brought to the table are limited to electronic devices, presentation papers, and posters no larger than 11 by 14 inches. Other items should be left in your seats.
- Information to be given to the Board is to be handed to the staff member who is seated in the front area of the meeting space. Information for other attendees is to be left on the designated table in the hallway outside of the Board room.
- In the event of an emergency that requires an emergency response such as a lockout, lockdown, or evacuation, staff from the Office of School Safety will direct attendees. If evacuating, attendees will exit through the rear or front door in an orderly manner, leave the building, and cross over to the parking lot or other safe distance as warranted.