All official School Board meetings shall be open to the public and shall be conducted as public meetings unless specifically exempted by Florida Statutes. No official action may be taken by the School Board at any time other than an official meeting.

I. The schedule for regular School Board meetings for the succeeding calendar year shall be established at the organizational meeting which is held in November. A regular meeting date may be changed by School Board action at any previous meeting, provided that each member is notified. When a meeting date is changed, the Superintendent shall take appropriate action to inform the public.

A. Special meetings shall be held when called by the Superintendent, School Board chair, or by a majority of the School Board members pursuant to the procedure set forth in Florida Statutes.

B. Emergency meetings may be held at any time by the Superintendent either upon his/her initiative or upon the School Board chairperson’s request. An emergency meeting may be called as quickly as complying with notification procedures; School Board members shall be given a tentative agenda during the notification.

1. The Superintendent shall prepare and distribute an agenda prior to the emergency meeting.

2. The agenda, the need for the emergency meeting, and the results of the emergency meeting shall be available to the public within twenty-four (24) hours of said meeting.

3. Emergency meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as prescribed for regular and special meetings.

II. Regular, special, and emergency meetings of the School Board shall be held in the regular Board meeting room, unless changed in the manner prescribed herein. As provided by Florida Statutes, any regular or special meeting may be held at any other appropriate public place within the District by giving prior public notice of at least forty-eight (48) hours. When such a meeting is scheduled or re- scheduled at a location other than the regular meeting place, the Superintendent shall take such action to give public notice as required by Florida Statutes.

III. All School Board meetings shall be conducted in general accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order. Robert’s Rules can be suspended as to a particular item action provided such suspension does not conflict with the law.

IV. Any item to be placed on the agenda of a regular School Board meeting shall be submitted, in writing, to the Superintendent’s office no later than five o’clock (5:00p.m.), eight (8) working days prior to the meeting at which consideration is desired. This rule shall not preclude the right of any citizen to address the School Board; however, except for good cause as provided herein, the School Board shall not take action on any substantive proposal until such matter has been formally placed on the School Board agenda. Copies of the agenda for regular meetings shall be made available at least seven (7) days prior to the scheduled meeting date to the public or other parties who have expressed a desire for such copy of the agenda. Copies of the agenda for a special meeting shall be prepared at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to such meeting. Once the agenda has been published, changes shall be made only for good cause as determined by the chair or a majority of the School Board. All agenda items on which action is deferred shall be listed on the next agenda under Unfinished Business unless a time certain is specified.

V. Members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard before the School Board takes action on a matter. This requirement does not apply to (a) emergency situations affecting the public health, welfare, or safety, if compliance with this requirement would cause an unreasonable delay in the ability of the School Board to act; (b) an official act involving no more than a ministerial act, including, but not limited to, approval of minutes and ceremonial proclamations; (c) a meeting exempt from Section 286.011; or (d) a meeting in which the School Board is acting in a quasi-judicial capacity.

A. Citizens wishing to speak at a board meeting must complete a hearing of citizens’ card and submit it to the administrative assistant. Each speaker will be called forward during the designated time on the agenda and will state his/her name.

B. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of three (3) minutes to speak unless time is extended by the Board.

C. Speakers addressing the School Board shall not make remarks which are irrelevant to the business of the School Board or which are abusive, threatening, defamatory, obscene, profane, or otherwise of a disorderly nature, or play any CDs, DVDs, or any other audio or video recordings

D. No speaker may yield his or her time to any other person.

V. A majority shall constitute a quorum for any School Board meeting. No business shall be transacted unless a quorum is present. Unless a majority is present, no meeting can be convened. If a quorum is physically present, a School Board member may participate through the use of technology.

VI. The vote shall be unanimous if all members audibly vote “yes” or otherwise indicate an affirmative vote. When a split vote occurs, the minutes shall show the vote of each member on the question. Each member who is present shall vote on each decision, ruling, or official act which is taken or adopted by the School Board, unless there is or appears to be a conflict of interest under the provisions of Florida Statutes. In such cases the member may abstain, but shall file a memorandum pursuant to requirements of Florida Statutes.

VII. The official minutes of the School Board shall be kept as prescribed by Florida Statutes. The minutes shall be kept in a safe place by the Superintendent and shall be made available by the Superintendent during the time the office is open to any citizen desiring to examine the minutes.

A. Only motions, resolutions, and the necessary information related thereto; the name of the person making the motion or submitting the resolution; the name of the person who seconds the motion; and the vote or action thereon shall be recorded.

B. Any School Board member or Superintendent who wishes any of his/her statements to be recorded may request during the meeting that such become a part of the official minutes.

C. Any other matter may be made part of the official minutes by direction of the chairman or by a majority of the School Board.

D. Lengthy material such as, but not limited to, student assignments may be maintained in record books which are separate from, but supplemental to the basic record of minutes.

VIII. The public shall be informed that it is unlawful to knowingly disrupt or interfere with a School Board meeting and that any such action may result in a misdemeanor offense of the second degree. This includes individuals who advise, counsel, or instruct students or School Board employees on techniques for disrupting a School Board meeting.

IX. Members of the public shall not display signs, posters, or placards in the School Board meeting room in a manner that blocks the view of other members of the audience. This shall not apply to materials deemed reasonably necessary by staff to make effective presentations to the School Board or by citizens while addressing the School Board when recognized during public comment.

X. Workshops may be scheduled by the School Board as deemed appropriate. No formal action may be taken by the School Board during such workshops. Participation by citizens in a workshop requires prior invitation of the Superintendent and/or Chair.