Approved: September 11, 2019 186
Revised: March 10, 2021
REMOTE PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS BY BOARD MEMBERS
The Evansville Community School District Board of Education believes that in order to execute the duties of their elective office and add to the diversity of thought and opinion in deliberations, it is expected that members be physically present at all Board of Education meetings.
The Board recognizes that members may not be able to be physically present at all Board meetings and that technology has made it possible for individuals to interact with others from remote locations. Therefore, a board member may be allowed to participate in a meeting of the full board or a standing committee through the use of technology, with the adherence to the following guidelines and the approval of the Board President.
1. A physical quorum must be present as required by statute for a valid meeting to occur.
2. Provided a quorum is physically present, a Board member may attend a meeting remotely if they are prevented from physically attending due to (a) personal illness or disability, (b) employment purpose or District business, (c) a family member illness or emergency, (d) the member is out of town or (e) personal health concerns during a global pandemic.
3. Board Members participating remotely shall do so for the entire open session.
4. No Board member shall participate remotely more than two (2) times during a calendar year. However, the Board, by majority vote, shall allow a Board member to participate remotely more than two (2) times when conditions or circumstances justify such added remote participation.
5. Members of the Board who desire to participate in a meeting remotely shall notify the President of the Board and District Administrator at least one (1) business day in advance of the meeting in question.
6. Members of the Board participating by remote access shall be considered present and shall be entitled to participate in the meeting if:
- Such member is able to hear other members of the Board and members of the public who are recognized by the Board during public comment.
- The public and other members of the Board are able to hear the member of the Board who is not physically present at the meeting.
- All votes shall be by roll call.
- If remote access fails during discussion preceding an action item, that failure ends the remote participation in the meeting on that topic and precludes further participation in voting at that meeting on that single topic. If remote access is re-established, members may rejoin discussion and act on subsequent action items.
- If for any reason the remote access, in full or in part with the Board member malfunctions before the adjournment of the meeting, the meeting shall continue.
7. Remote participation in Board meetings is limited to the Board member. Public input will not be taken remotely via electronic communication.
8. The Board Vice President will conduct any meeting of the full Board in which the Board President is participating remotely.
Remote participation is not allowed for the Annual Meeting, closed session, expulsion hearings, or disciplinary hearings.
The District Administrator or their designee is authorized and directed to provide the technology sufficient to implement this policy.
Legal Ref.: Wisconsin Statute 19.82 (Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies)
Local Ref.: Wisconsin School News - Remote Participation in Board Meetings, Boardman & Clark, LLP
|