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MCOE reviews temporary remote-participation rules set to expire Jan. 1, 2026
Summary
Superintendent Nicole Nadeau summarized temporary teleconferencing rules that let board members join remotely for "just cause" or emergency reasons, requiring public remote access as well; the board discussed quorum, mileage of use and the sunset date of 2026-01-01.
Superintendent Nicole Nadeau told the board the county's temporary remote-participation rules allow a member to participate remotely when they meet "just cause" or emergency definitions and that the board must evaluate eligibility at the start of the meeting. "So unless this is renewed, this this is true through 01/01/2026," she said.
Board members pressed for operational details, including whether a remote participant may vote and how agendas and posting requirements are affected. Nadeau and others clarified a remote participant may vote if the board finds the absence meets the allowable criteria and that the usual Brown Act posting and public-access requirements still apply. A member noted a physical quorum must still be present in one location — "at least 3 people would need to be present," a participant said — and staff agreed to circulate the teleconferencing-rules table and a written summary of what will change in January 2026.
The board also discussed public access: Nadeau said MCOE will post on its website which meetings include a remote option and that off-site meetings will generally not provide remote access because of local technology constraints. The board did not take a formal vote on a policy change at the meeting; staff said they will provide written stipulations comparing current temporary rules to the rules that will apply if the sunset takes effect.
