Board Bylaw
Board Bylaw No. 9320
Bylaw adopted: March 15, 2012
Bylaw revised, adopted: October 6, 2023
MEETINGS AND NOTICES
Meetings of the Governing Board are conducted for the purpose of accomplishing district business. In accordance with state open meeting laws (Brown Act), the Board shall hold its meetings in public and shall conduct closed sessions during such meetings only as authorized by law. To encourage community involvement in the schools, Board meetings shall provide opportunities for questions and comments by members of the public. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with law and the Board’s bylaws,
policies and administrative regulations.
(cf. 9321 - Closed Session Purposes and Agendas)
(cf. 9321.1 - Closed Session Actions and Reports)
(cf. 9322 - Agenda/Meeting Materials)
(cf. 9323 - Meeting Conduct)
A Board meeting exists whenever a majority of Board members gather at the same time and place including teleconference location as permitted by Government Code 54953 to hear, discuss or deliberate or take action upon any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board or district. (Government Code 54952.2)
A majority of the Board shall not, outside of an authorized meeting, use a series of communications of any kind, directly or through intermediaries, including social media and other electronic communications, to discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board.
However, an employee or district official may engage in separate conversations with Board members in order to answer questions or provide information regarding an item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board, as long as that employee or district official does not communicate the comments or position of any Board members to other Board members. (Government Code 54952.2)
In order to help ensure participation of individuals with disabilities at Board meeting, the Superintendent or designee shall provide appropriate disability-related accommodations or modifications upon request in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
(Government Code 54953.2, 54954.1)
Any doubt about a request for accommodation shall be resolved in favor of accessibility.
(Government Code 54953, 54953.2, 54954.1, 54954.2)
Notice of the procedure for receiving and resolving requests for accommodation described above shall be given in each instance in which notice of the time of a meeting is otherwise given or the agenda for the meeting is otherwise posted.
(Government Code 54953)
Regular Meetings
The Board shall adopt a yearly calendar specifying the date, time and place of its regular meetings. (Education Code 35140).
At least 72 hours prior to a regular meeting, the agenda shall be posted at one or more locations freely accessible to members of the public and on the district’s Internet web site. (Government Code 54954.2)
Whenever agenda materials relating to an open session of a regular meeting are distributed to the Board less than 72 hours before the meeting, the Superintendent or designee shall make the materials available for public inspection at a public office or location designated for the purpose or on the district web site, consistent with Government Code 54957.5, at the time the materials are distributed to all or a majority of the Board. (Government Code 54957.5)
Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time by the presiding officer or a majority of the Board members. However, a special meeting shall not be called regarding the salary, salary schedule, or other compensation of the Superintendent, assistant superintendent, or other management employee as described by Government Code 3511.1. (Government Code 54956)
Written notice of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by any other means to all Board members and the local media who have requested such notice in writing. The notice also shall be posted on the district’s Internet web site. The notice shall be received at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting.
The notice shall also be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting in a location freely accessible to the public. The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed. No other business shall be considered at this meeting. (Education Code 35144; Government Code 54956)
Any Board member may waive the 24-hour written notice requirement prior to the time of the meeting by filing a written waiver of notice with the clerk or secretary of the Board or by being present at the meeting at the time it convenes. (Education Code 35144. Government Code 54956)
Every notice of a special meeting shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the Board concerning any item that has been described in the meeting notice, before or during the item’s consideration. (Government Code 54954.3)
Emergency Meetings
In the case of an emergency situation for which prompt action is necessary due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, the Board may hold an emergency meeting without complying with the 24-hour notice and/or 24-hour posting requirement for special meetings pursuant to Government Code 54956. The Board shall comply with all other requirements for special meetings during an emergency meeting. (Government Code 54956.5)
An emergency situation means either of the following: (Government Code 54956.5)
1. An emergency, which shall be defined as a work stoppage, crippling activity, or other activity that severely impairs public health and/or safety as determined by a majority of the members of the Board
2. A dire emergency, which shall be defined as a crippling disaster, mass destruction, terrorist activity, or threatened terrorist act that poses peril so immediate and significant that requiring the Board to provide one-hour notice before holding an emergency meeting may endanger the public health and/or safety as determined by a majority of the members of the Board.
Except in the case of a dire emergency, the Board president or designee shall give notice of the emergency meeting by telephone at least one hour before the meeting to the local media that have requested notice of special meetings. All telephone numbers provided by the media in the most recent request for notification must be exhausted. If telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirement of one hour is waived and, as soon after the meeting as possible, the Board shall notify those media representatives of the meeting and shall describe the purpose of the meeting and any action taken by the Board. In the case of a dire emergency, the Board president or designee shall give such notice at or near the time he/she notifies the other members of the Board about the meeting. (Government Code 54956.5)
The minutes of the meeting, a list of persons the Board president or designee notified or attempted to notify, a copy of the roll call vote, and any actions taken at the meeting shall be posted for at least 10 days in a public place as soon after the meeting as possible. (Government Code 54956.5)
Adjourned/Continued Meetings
A majority vote by the Board may adjourn/continue any regular or special meeting to a later time and place that shall be specified in the order of adjournment. Less than a quorum of the Board may adjourn such a meeting. If no Board members are present, the secretary or the clerk may declare the meeting adjourned to a later time and shall give notice in the same manner required for special meetings. (Government Code 54955)
Within 24 hours after the time of adjournment, a copy of the order or notice of adjournment/continuance shall be conspicuously posted on or near the door of the place where the meeting was held. (Government Code 54955)
Study Sessions, Retreats, Public Forums, and Discussion Meetings
The Board may occasionally convene a study session or public forum to study an issue in more detail or to receive information from staff or feedback from members of the public. The Board may also convene a retreat or discussion meeting to discuss Board roles and relationships.
Public notice shall be given in accordance with law when a quorum of the Board is attending a study session, retreat, public forum, or discussion meeting. All such meetings shall comply with the Brown Act and shall be held in open session and within district boundaries. Action items shall not be included on the agenda for these meetings.
Other Gatherings
Attendance by a majority of the Board members at any of the following events is not subject to the Brown Act provided that a majority of the Board members do not discuss specific district business among themselves other than as part of the scheduled program: (Government Code 54952.2)
1. A conference or similar public gathering open to the public that involves a discussion of issues of general interest to the public or to school board members
2. An open, publicized meeting organized by a person or organization other than the district to address a topic of local community concern
3. An open and noticed meeting of another body of the district
4. An open and noticed meeting of a legislative body of another local agency
5. A purely social or ceremonial occasion
6. An open and noticed meeting of a standing committee of the Board, provided that the Board members who are not members of the standing committee attend only as observers
Individual contacts or conversations between a Board member and any other person are not subject to the Brown Act. (Government Code 54952.2)
Location of Meetings
Meetings shall not be held in a facility that prohibits the admittance of any person on the basis of ancestry or any characteristic listed in Government Code 11135, including, but not limited to, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. In addition, meetings shall not be held in a facility, which is inaccessible to individuals with disabilities or where members of the public must make a payment or purchase in order to be admitted.
(Government Code 54961)
Meetings shall be held within district boundaries, except to do any of the following: (Government Code 54954)
1. Comply with state or federal law or court order or attend a judicial or administrative proceeding to which the district is a party
2. Inspect real or personal property, which cannot conveniently be brought into the district, provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly, related to the property.
3. Participate in meetings or discussions of multiagency significance, provided these meetings are held
within one of the other agencies’ boundaries, with all participating agencies giving the notice required by
law.
4. Meet in the closest meeting facility if the district has no meeting facility within its boundaries or if
its principal office is located outside the district
5. Meet with elected or appointed state or federal officials when a local meeting would be impractical,
solely to discuss legislative or regulatory issues affecting the district over which the state or federal
officials have jurisdiction
6. Meet in or near a facility owned by the district but located outside the district, provided the meeting
agenda is limited to items directly related to that facility
7. Visit the office of the district's legal counsel for a closed session on pending litigation, when doing
so would reduce legal fees or costs
8. Attend conferences on nonadversarial collective bargaining techniques
9. Interview residents of another district regarding the Board's potential employment of an applicant
for Superintendent of the district
10. Interview a potential employee from another district
Meetings exempted from the boundary requirements, as specified in items #1-10 above, shall still be
subject to the notice and open meeting requirements for regular and special meetings when a quorum of the Board attends the meeting.
If a fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency renders the regular meeting place unsafe, meetings shall be held for the duration of the emergency at a place designated by the Board president or designee, who shall so inform all news media who have requested notice of special meetings by the most rapid available means of communication. (Government Code 54954)
Traditional Teleconferencing
A teleconference is a meeting of the Board in which Board members are in different locations, connected by electronic means, through audio and/or video. (Government Code 54953)
The Board may use teleconferences for all purposes in connection with any meeting within the Board’s
subject matter jurisdiction. All votes taken during a teleconference meeting shall be by roll call.
(Government Code 54953)
All teleconferenced meetings shall be conducted in a manner that protects the statutory and constitutional rights of the parties or the public appearing before the Board. (Government Code 54953)
During the teleconference, at least a quorum of the members of the Board shall participate from locations within district boundaries. (Government Code 54953)
Unless a Board member participates by teleconference pursuant to the provisions described in the sections "Teleconferencing During a Personal Emergency," or "Teleconferencing For ‘Just Cause'" below,
Agendas shall be posted at all teleconference locations and shall list all teleconference locations whenever they are posted elsewhere. Additional teleconference locations may be provided to the public. (Government Code 54953)
All teleconference locations shall be accessible to the public. The public shall have the right to address the Board directly at each teleconference location.
Teleconferencing During a Personal Emergency
Until January 1, 2026, with approval from the majority of the Board, a Board member may be permitted to participate in a meeting remotely when a physical or family medical emergency prevents the Board
member from attending in person. The Board member requesting to appear remotely shall notify the Board of the emergency situation as soon as possible, and provide a concise general description of the
circumstances relating to the Board member's need to appear remotely. The Board member shall not be required to disclose any disability, medical diagnosis, or personal medical information exempt under
existing law. (Government Code 54953)
A Board member may not appear remotely under emergency circumstances for more than 20 percent of the Board's regular meetings or for more than three consecutive months. If the Board meets less than 10 times in a calendar year, a Board member may not appear remotely under emergency circumstances for more than two meetings. (Government Code 54953)
When a Board member is approved to participate remotely due to emergency circumstances, the Board
member is not required to participate from a location which is accessible to the public and the location does not need to be identified on the agenda. (Government Code 54953)
If permitted to participate remotely, the Board member shall utilize both audio and visual technology and publicly disclose, before any action is taken, whether any other individuals 18 years or older are present in the remote location with the Board member, and the general nature of the member's relationship with such individuals. (Government Code 54953)
The district shall also provide public access to the meeting via a two-way audiovisual platform or a twoway audio service and a live webcast, with public comment being allowed via the remote platform as well as in person and the public shall be able to offer comments in real time. The agenda shall include
information describing how members of the public can access the platform. (Government Code 54953)
If a disruption prevents broadcasting the meeting to members of the public using the call-in option or
internet-based service option, or a disruption that is within the Board's control prevents members of the
public from offering public comments using the call-in option or internet-based service option, the Board shall not take action on agenda items until public access to the meeting is restored. (Government Code 54953)
Teleconferencing for "Just Cause"
A Board member may be permitted to appear remotely, pursuant to the provisions below, for just cause for no more than two meetings per calendar year. A Board member appearing for just cause shall notify the Board at the earliest possible opportunity of the need to participate in the meeting remotely, including at the start of a regular meeting. (Government Code 54953)
Just Cause may exist for any of the following: (Government Code 54953)
1. A childcare or caregiving need of a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or
domestic partner that requires a Board member to participate remotely
2. A contagious illness prevents a Board member from attending in person
3. A Board member has a need related to a physical or mental disability not otherwise reasonably
accommodated
4. A Board member is traveling while on official business of the Board or another state or local agency
When a Board member participates remotely for just cause, the Board member is not required to participate from a location which is accessible to the public and the location does not need to be identified on the agenda. (Government Code 54953)
If the Board member participates remotely, the Board member shall utilize both audio and visual
technology and publicly disclose, before any action is taken, whether any other individuals 18 years or
older are present in the remote location with the Board member, and the general nature of the member's relationship with such individuals. (Government Code 54953)
The district shall also provide public access to the meeting via a two-way audiovisual platform or a twoway audio service and a live webcast, with public comment being allowed via the remote platform as well as in person and the public shall be able to offer comments in real time. The agenda shall include
information describing how members of the public can access the platform. (Government Code 54953)
If a disruption prevents broadcasting the meeting to members of the public using the call-in option or
internet-based service option, or a disruption that is within the Board's control prevents members of the
public from offering public comments using the call-in option or internet-based service option, the Board shall not take action on agenda items until public access to the meeting is restored. (Government Code 54953)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
35140 Time and place of meetings
35143 Annual organizational meeting, date, and notice
35144 Special meeting
35145 Public meetings
35145.5 Agenda; public participation; regulations
35146 Closed sessions
35147 Open meeting law exceptions and applications
GOVERNMENT CODE
3511.1 Local agency executives
11135 State programs and activities, discrimination
54950-54963 The Ralph M. Brown Act, especially:
54953 Meetings to be open and public; attendance
54954 Time and place of regular meetings
54954.2 Agenda posting requirements, board actions
54956 Special meetings; call; notice
54956.5 Emergency meetings
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
12101-12213 Americans with Disabilities Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28
35.160 Effective communications
36.303 Auxiliary aids and services
COURT DECISIONS
Wolfe v. City of Fremont, (2006) 144 Cal.App. 544