Two board members presented proposed changes to the district’s public‑comment policy (BDD H1) on Aug. 13 that would standardize timing, submission and repeat‑speaker rules and require a redline policy for legal review.

Board members explained the draft recommendations, which include: requiring in‑person commenters to complete a comment card with name, address and topic prior to the pledge of allegiance; limiting in‑person public comments to a total 30 minutes with a maximum of three minutes per speaker; limiting virtual comments to 15 minutes total with three minutes per submitted item read by the board president or designee; prohibiting speakers from yielding unused time; requiring that anyone who speaks on the same topic at three consecutive meetings not be permitted to speak at the next two meetings; and directing the superintendent to ensure written follow‑up within five business days or to designate a staff responder.

During board discussion members asked for a red‑lined policy and administrative procedure to be prepared and legally reviewed before a first reading. One trustee said the district has not historically limited content to agenda items and asked for further discussion about whether to restrict comments to posted agenda items.

Why it matters: The policy changes would change longstanding local practice in some respects (time limits, one‑time speaker per meeting and document submission rules) and affect how community members engage with the board.

Ending: The board agreed to move the policy from “board action” to an “information” item for today's meeting and asked administration to produce a red‑lined policy and administrative procedure for a future first reading, with legal review.