Thank you for taking the time to address the Board of Education of your Battle Creek Public Schools. Your ideas and suggestions can help us in our mission of being a world-class system providing a quality education that prepares all students to be productive and responsible citizens.
There are two ways to express your thoughts at a Board meeting:
- First, there is a specific section of the agenda permitting people to address the Board. This is the best time to speak if you would like to discuss something that does not appear on the agenda.
- Secondly, you may speak during one of the public discussion times set aside during the Board meeting. This is the time to make your view known about any item(s) being discussed.
If you wish to address the Board, please complete a comment card and indicate whether your comments are best heard during the public comment time or during a specific Agenda item. Please limit your remarks so that others will have an opportunity to address the Board. Public Comment time is limited to three minutes per person and five minutes per group addressing a common Agenda item. When you speak, please give your name, address, and state whether you are speaking as an individual or for an organization.
The public participation portion of the meeting cannot be used to make personal attacks against a Board Member or District employee. The Board shall not hear complaints at an open meeting about named District personnel.
In general, problems, complaints, or concerns are best solved at the classroom or individual school level. Others may require involvement of appropriate Central Office staff. It is the hope of the Board that these avenues have been pursued before a concern is presented to the Board. Please contact the Office of the Board of Education (965-9465) to set up a meeting regarding your concern.
Open Meetings/Closed Sessions
The public is invited to attend all open meetings of the BCPS Board of Education. Occasionally, however, Closed Sessions may be held. A two-thirds majority roll call vote of the Board is necessary to convene a Closed Session to consider items such as the purchase or lease of real property, to consult with attorneys on trial or settlement strategy, or to review the specific contents of an application for employment when a candidate so requests.
The Board may also meet in Closed Sessions to consider negotiation strategy or the dismissal, suspension, or discipline of an employee. Closed Sessions may also be held to review complaints or charges against an employee at the employee's request and to consider the dismissal, suspension, or discipline of a student when requested by the student or their parent or legal guardian.
Board Response to an Issue
Issues require review and deliberation by the Board if good decisions are to be made. Immediate answers cannot always be rendered. The Board will listen to you and answer your question and make a decision on your concern as soon as possible. However, Trustees need to review all available information regarding the matter. When a decision has been reached or the answer determined, you will be notified.
