Updated Bylaw for Public Participation

The updated bylaw for 0167.3 Public Participation at Board Meetings was approved on Jan. 10, 2022. For convenience, it is available here. 

Public Participation Revised Bylaw 0167.3 for NACS Board Meetings - Approved Jan. 10, 2022



Procedures for public participation at NACS school board meetings is outlined here:

The NACS Board of School Trustees meetings will take place at 6 p.m. in the Perry Hill Elementary School cafeteria for now. Attendees at Monday’s meeting should park in the lot off Coldwater road directly in front of the school, using the main entrance. Doors will open to the public at 5:45 p.m. Board meetings will continue being livestreamed through the NACS YouTube channel as another means for the community to be informed of school corporation business.

To help clarify the changes to public participation, here are key highlights of the revised bylaw approved at the meeting on Jan. 10, 2022:

  • Public participation shall be limited to 30 minutes total unless a majority of the board agrees to extend the time.
  • If more speakers sign up than can be heard in the allotted time, speakers will be selected via random drawing. Sign-up order is therefore irrelevant.
  • Sign-up for public comment closes when public comment time begins.
  • Individuals may speak for 2 minutes; time may not be ceded to another speaker, nor may they speak again at the same meeting.
  • The Board may vote to give preference to participants: (1) residing within the school district; (2) employed by NACS; (3) having a child/children enrolled in NACS; or (4) individuals paying property taxes that accrue to NACS.
  • Public participants must be recognized by the presiding officer, and they must preface their comments by stating their name; the speaker should direct comments to the presiding officer.
  • The presiding officer may: 1) terminate an individual’s comments which are repetitive or threatening; 2) interrupt, warn, or terminate a public comment when the comment is too lengthy, not directed to the presiding officer, or obscene; 3) request any individual to leave the meeting when that individual behaves in a manner that interferes with or is disruptive of the orderly conduct of the meeting; 4) request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly individual when that individual's conduct interferes with or disrupts the orderly conduct of the meeting; 5) call for a recess or an adjournment to another time, when the lack of public decorum so interferes with or disrupts the orderly conduct of the meeting so as to warrant such action.

Revised Public Participation Guidelines 20220121.pdf