The Volusia County School Board on July 29 adopted a set of proposed policy amendments and authorized advertisement of further changes to its public‑participation rules.

Adopted policies: The board voted unanimously to adopt proposed amendments to:
- Policy 101 (Internal organization and operation of the school board)
- Policy 208 E and S (Student Code of Conduct and Discipline)
- Policy 511 (Safety and security of facilities)
- Policy 523 (School board vehicle usage)
- Policy 801 (Public participation in school board meetings)

Each item had been advertised and discussed by counsel and staff at prior meetings before adoption.

Public‑participation advertising decision: The board also voted to authorize advertisement of additional proposed amendments to Policy 801 (public participation). That vote passed by a 4–1 margin; the board discussion focused on meeting efficiency, the district’s long practice of multiple opportunities for public input (consent‑agenda public comment, a 6 p.m. general public comment period and end‑of‑meeting general comment) and the board’s intent to streamline meetings while still preserving public access. One board member voted against moving the public‑participation amendment to advertisement; board members who supported advertising said the change would allow the public to review specific proposed language and return comment before final adoption.

Why it matters: Policy 801 governs how members of the public may speak at board meetings; proposed adjustments address whether a single speaker may use allotted time to read statements on another person’s behalf and other procedural clarifications. The board’s action sends the revised policies into effect (for those adopted) and opens a public comment period for the additional proposed changes to Policy 801.

Ending: Staff will publish the proposed language for Policy 801 and receive public input during the required advertisement period before returning to the board for final action; adopted policy amendments will be posted in board policy documents.