OKEMOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

*PLEASE NOTE: All recordings of meetings will now be posted to The Okemos Channel YouTube. Meetings prior to September 9 will be posted over the next two weeks.*

 WELCOME TO A MEETING OF YOUR BOARD OF EDUCATION

The board and district staff appreciate your interest in our meetings and in the school system. Public participation and open lines of communication are vital to a successful educational environment for our schools.

WHAT HAPPENS AT A BOARD MEETING

Our goal is to conduct necessary business while allowing adequate time for the public to express concerns and opinions. Each meeting has an agenda. Agenda and minutes of school board meetings are posted to the district website.

PUBLIC COMMENT AT BOARD MEETINGS

There are two opportunities for public comment at regular meetings: Citizens who wish to address agenda or non-agenda items will have an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting, as well as near the end of the meeting. Individuals who wish to address the board must complete a blue form, located with the agendas near the room entrance, and present it to the board’s secretary prior to the start of the agenda item.

At the appropriate point in the agenda, the board president will call upon individuals who have completed a blue form.  The board president will call individuals who have submitted a blue card to speak on a topic. Citizens are required to limit comments to three minutes, except when this requirement is waived by the board president during the meeting.  A designated timekeeper will communicate to the individual who is addressing the board at three minutes. The board highly values public comment and input; however, the board meeting format is designed to facilitate the evening’s agenda and, therefore, restricts board members from engaging in conversation with speakers or immediately responding to questions.  Questions and concerns may be addressed by the board later in the agenda and may be assigned for follow-up by the board or superintendent at a later date. Citizens are reminded it is unlawful to mention the name of students when discussing behavior or other incidents.

WHEN DOES THE BOARD MEET?

Board meetings will normally be conducted the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the Community Conference Room in the Administration Center located at Mt. Hope and Okemos Road. School board meetings are live streamed on Zoom.  Replay of the meetings can be found on The Okemos Channel YouTube page. Notice of all meetings are posted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act and are on the district website.

All meetings of the board of education are open to the public except those specifically exempted by law; these closed Executive Sessions may be a discussion of negotiations or certain personnel or student matters.

NEED FURTHER INFORMATION?

For additional information, please email the Board of Education or call the Superintendent's Office at (517) 706-5010 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.