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Public Comments

School Board Business Meeting Public Comment Guidelines

We welcome and value community participation at South Whidbey School District Board of Directors meetings. Below are a few helpful guidelines for those who would like to share public comment.

Attending In Person

If you are attending the meeting in person and would like to provide public comment, please sign up with the Director of Communications prior to the start of the public comment portion of the meeting.

Attending via Zoom

If you are joining us through the Zoom Webinar, please enter your:

  • Name

  • Location

  • Comment

in the Q&A section during the public comment period.

Accommodations

If you are unable to attend due to disability, limited mobility, or other circumstances:

  • You may have a third party read your comment on your behalf, or

  • Submit your written comment via:

    • Email, or

    • Mail:
      South Whidbey School District
      Attn: School Board
      5476 Maxwelton Road
      Langley, WA 98236

To be included in the meeting record, written comments must be received 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting.

Public Comment Overview

Board meetings are meetings of the Board held in public. While this is not a public forum for dialogue, we sincerely appreciate hearing from our community.

  • Please address comments to the Board as a whole.

  • Speakers will typically have 3–5 minutes, at the discretion of the Board Chair.

  • The public comment period will last up to 45 minutes.

  • Comments must include the speaker’s name and location.

Public comments from in-person attendees will be heard first, followed by comments submitted online.

The Board will generally not respond during public comment, but the Chair may indicate if follow-up by the District is needed.

Helpful Guidelines

To ensure a respectful and productive meeting:

  • Please focus comments on ideas, concerns, or topics, not individuals.

  • Concerns about specific staff members should first be addressed through the District’s administrative process.

  • Comments involving legal matters currently under counsel should be submitted in writing.

We ask all participants to maintain civil and respectful communication in alignment with SWSD Policy #1400 Comments that include personal or derogatory remarks may be paused or edited to maintain a respectful environment.  Professional Communications policy

Thank you for your engagement and partnership in supporting South Whidbey students and schools.

For additional School Board information 

and policies, please visit:
www.sw.wednet.edu → School Board

OpenPublicMeetings2022web (PDF)