1.
A. |
Speaker Sign Up:
Members of the public, employees of the district and local school council members: |
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- Members of the public, employees of the district, local school council members and members of other parent groups wishing to speak must register in person with the Office of the Board between 8 am and 9 am of the day of the meeting or such other time noted in the meeting agenda published by the Board.
- Registration must be made in person by the individual who will make the presentation.
- An individual may not complete a speaker registration on behalf of another person.
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| B. |
City, State and Federal elected officials: |
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- City, State and Federal elected officials may request speaker time by contacting the Board Secretary.
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| 2. |
Interpreters:
An interpreter will be provided for those speakers who wish to make their remarks in Spanish. Prospective speakers who wish to make their remarks in a language other than English or Spanish must notify the Board Office at least two (2) business days prior to the Board meeting to request an interpreter. |
| 3. |
Accommodations:
Individuals with a physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity who require an accommodation, auxiliary aid and/or other services to participate in a Board meeting must notify the Board Office at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting to request the accommodation, auxiliary aid and/or other service. Sign language interpretation is available upon request without prior notice. |
| 4. |
Order of Speakers:
The Board Secretary may group speakers according to a particular topic and may call certain speakers out of numerical order so that all comments regarding a particular topic may be heard together. The Board Secretary may call City, State and Federal elected officials to speak at any time as appropriate. Individuals who spoke at the previous Board meeting may register for Public Participation and only with time permitting and, at the chair’s prerogative, may be called to speak. Speakers called by the Board Secretary may not cede their time to another person. |
| 5. |
Speaker Remarks and Submissions:
When called by the Board Secretary, a speaker shall proceed promptly to the microphone area where s/he will have two minutes to present their remarks and materials to the Board. All public presentations must be limited to issues of concern before the Board and/or related to the Chicago Public Schools. Comments of a personal nature directed towards individual Board members, employees of the Board or any other individual are not permitted. It is the meeting chair’s prerogative to limit the discussion of any speaker to allow for broad and diverse public participation. Speakers may submit materials, written testimony, pictures, posters etc., to the Board Secretary for the Board Members consideration. |
| 6. |
Speaker Groups:
The Board Secretary may place speakers in groups who are addressing a single issue to permit sufficient time for the Board to hear from both sides of the same issue. Groups of individual may appear in support or opposition to a particular topic; however a maximum of two representatives will be called to speak from those who have signed up on the topic. Speaker support groups are limited to 15 persons in the microphone area. An individual may not appear in the microphone area more than once during a meeting as either a speaker or as part of a speaker support group. |
| 7. |
Written Testimony:
Any person who is unable, for any reason, to speak at a Board Meeting may submit written testimony to the Board Secretary for the Board Members. Written testimony must be submitted by the close of the Board Meeting for consideration by Board Members and inclusion in the meeting proceedings. |
| 8. |
Behavior:
Courteous, respectful and civil behavior is expected from all speakers and all persons attending a Board meeting. Unsolicited comments and disruptive behavior are prohibited. Individuals who are disruptive may be given a warning and also, may, if necessary, be removed from the meeting. |
| 9. |
Restrictions:
Vendors wishing to present products or services for purchase should not use the Public Participation portion of a Board meeting for this purpose.
Hand-held posters and placards are not allowed in the Board meeting chambers. |
| 10. |
Recordings:
The Board records the public participation portion of each Board meeting. The Board reserves the right to edit any and all portions of the recording from each monthly meeting. These recordings are aired on local cable channels for the convenience of the public. Members of the public can copy any portion of the public participation or business portion of the meeting from the televised broadcast. |
| 11. |
Media:
An area of the Board chambers will be designated for members of the media who wish to cover the public participation portion of the Board Meeting. Guidelines and requirements for media access to Board Meetings are issued by the Office of Communications. |