Board Meetings and Community Participation

Regular monthly meetings of the Genesee School District Board of Trustees are always open to the public and each agenda has an opportunity for public input. Agendas are always posted at the post office, City office and on the door at the school by the district office. Further, an agenda is always posted on our web site. This is so interested persons know what business the trustees intend to discuss and possibly take action upon.

A parent, patron or student who would like to address the trustees may either contact the superintendent ahead of time and be placed on the agenda as a scheduled visitor or s/he may opt to address the Board under the unscheduled visitor portion of the meeting.

Both of these opportunities have been provided specifically to solicit input on agenda items or even non-agenda items. A Board meeting is technically a meeting held in public, not a public meeting. This means that the Board's business is conducted in the open but it is their meeting and it is not open to general participation by visitors. Anyone wanting to address the Board should be prepared to do so as a scheduled or unscheduled visitor. There may be times when the Chairman allows a visitor to speak at other times, but this is not generally the case. Once the visitor input portion of the agenda is over, the trustees will proceed to discuss and act upon unfinished and/or new business. They cannot act upon new items that have been brought forward by visitors.

The Trustees have developed policy regarding public participation (see Policy 140.15 - Participation by Patrons). This policy outlines the steps an individual should take to have his or her concerns addressed. The Board will never discuss personnel issues in open session. The Board can meet in closed session, under specific circumstances as outlined in Idaho Code 67-2345, but they cannot take any action except as provided by law. The meeting procedures are outlined in Genesee School District Policy 140.3 - Board Meetings.

The draft minutes of all Board meetings are posted on the District web site for two months or are available at the District office. Minutes do not become official until they approved at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

This is your school district. Public participation is an important and vital ingredient to the success of the operation of the District. Your are always encouraged to contact your child's teacher or an administrator if you have day-to-day concerns. While you may call a trustee and they will listen to your concern, trustees have no legal authority except when they meet as a board.