How should a school board handle public comment during its meetings?

Short answer

Under Robert's Rules, people who are not board members have no right to speak at a board meeting. The board decides if, when, and how they may speak. Most school boards set a public comment period on the agenda, with clear time limits written into a rule. Your state's open-meetings law may require public comment, so check it first.

What to do

1. Check your state law and policies first. Many states require school boards to allow public comment. Some also limit what the board can act on if the item was not on the posted agenda.
2. Adopt a written rule. A standing rule is a rule about how meetings run that the board adopts by a simple vote (RONR §2). Have it cover when comment happens, how people sign up, how long each speaker gets (often 3 minutes), the total time, and basic conduct.
3. Put public comment on the agenda. List it as its own item, so everyone knows when it comes (RONR §41).
4. Run it fairly. Call speakers in sign-up order. Use a timer. Apply the same limits to everyone, whether you agree with them or not (RONR §47).
5. Listen, don't debate. Public comment is not debate on a motion. Board members usually should not argue with speakers. If an item needs action, place it on a future agenda.
6. Keep order. If a speaker becomes disruptive, the chair warns them first, then ends their time if needed (RONR §43).
7. Note it in the minutes briefly. Minutes record what the board did, not every word said. A short note that public comment was received is usually enough (RONR §48).

What the chair says

We now come to public comment. Each speaker will have three minutes. Please state your name for the record.

The board will listen tonight but will not respond or take action on items not on the agenda.

Your time has expired. Thank you for your comments.

Please keep your remarks respectful. If the disruption continues, I will have to end your time.

The motion

Public comment itself is not a motion. But the board makes a motion to adopt the public comment rule:

• Needs a second? Yes in a large group; small boards may skip seconds (RONR §49).
• Debatable? Yes.
• Amendable? Yes (RONR §12).
• Vote needed? A majority.
• Can it interrupt a speaker? No.

To give one speaker extra time, the chair can ask, "Is there any objection?" If no one objects, it is done by general consent, meaning everyone quietly agrees (RONR §4).

Common mistakes

• Turning comment into a back-and-forth. Arguing with speakers wastes time and can look unfair. Hear them out, then move on.
• Bending the time limit for friends. Uneven treatment invites complaints. If a board member thinks a rule is being broken, they can raise a point of order, asking the chair to enforce the rules (RONR §23).
• Acting on surprise topics. Voting on something raised only in public comment may break your state's notice rules. Put it on a later agenda instead.

When your own rules say otherwise

Robert's Rules is the fallback. State open-meetings law, your district charter, board policies, and your bylaws or standing rules all come first (RONR §2). Look for provisions on required public comment, speaker sign-up, time limits, comments on agenda versus non-agenda items, and what happens during executive session, a closed meeting where the public is excluded (RONR §9). Rules on free speech at public meetings can be strict, so if a dispute arises, it may be worth asking your district's attorney.