MJUSD
DIVISION 9000
BYLAWS OF THE BOARD
MEETINGS AND NOTICES
Meetings of the Governing Board are conducted for the purpose of accomplishing District business.
A Board meeting exists whenever a majority of its members gather at the same time and place to hear, discuss or deliberate upon any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board or District. (Government Code 54952.2)
In accordance with State open meeting laws, the Board shall hold its meetings in public and shall conduct closed sessions during these meetings only to discuss confidential matters specified by law. To encourage community involvement in the schools, meetings shall provide opportunities for questions and comments by members of the public and shall be conducted in accordance with law and Board-adopted bylaws.
Direct communication, personal intermediaries, and technological devices shall not be used by a majority of Board members to develop a collective concurrence as to an action that members will take on any item of District business. (Government Code 54952.2)
Meetings shall be held within District boundaries, except when otherwise allowed by law. (Government Code 54954)
Meetings shall be held in a facility that is accessible to all persons, including disabled persons, without charge. (Government Code 54961)
Meeting notices and agendas shall specify that individuals who require special accommodation including, but not limited to, an American sign language interpreter, accessible seating, etc. should contact the Superintendent or designee at least two (2) days before the meeting date.
Regular Meetings
The Board shall hold one (1) regular meeting each month. Regular meetings shall be held at 6:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the District Office Board Room, 17100 Foothill Avenue, North Edwards, unless the Board orders otherwise.
Ending Time for Meetings
Board meetings should normally end at 10:00 p.m. To facilitate this ending time, at 9:00 p.m., the action portion of the meeting will conclude, unless there is action by three (3) or more members of the Board to proceed.
At least seventy-two (72) hours prior to a regular meeting, the agenda shall be posted at one (1) or more locations freely accessible to members of the public. (Government Code 54954.2)
If a fire, flood, earthquake or other emergency renders the regular meeting place unsafe, meetings may temporarily be held at a place designated by the President or designee, who shall so inform, by the most rapid available means of communication, all news media who have requested notice of special meetings. (Government Code 54954)
Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the presiding officer or a majority of the Board members. (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 shall be received at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. The notice shall also be posted at least twenty-four (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 these meetings. (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 after the item's consideration. (Government Code 54954.3)
At least seventy-two (72) hours' public notice shall be given for any retreats, study sessions or training sessions held by the Board. All such meetings shall be held within District boundaries and action items shall not be included.
Emergency Meetings
The Board may hold an emergency meeting without complying with the twenty-four (24) hour notice requirement in the following cases: (Government Code 54956.5)
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A work stoppage or other activity which severely impairs public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the Board.
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A crippling disaster which severely impairs public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the Board.
The Board President or designee shall give notice of the emergency meeting by telephone at least one (1) hour before the meeting to the local media that have requested notice of special meetings. If telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirement of one (1) 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. (Government Code 54956.5)
No closed session may be held during an emergency meeting. All other rules governing special meetings shall be observed, with the exception of the twenty-four (24) hour notice requirement. (Government Code 54956.5)
The minutes of the meeting, a list of persons the 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 ten (10) days in a public place as soon after the meeting as possible. (Government Code 54956.5)
Adjourned Meetings
A majority vote by the Board may adjourn any meeting to a later time and place that shall be specified in the order of adjournment. Within twenty-four (24) hours after a meeting has been adjourned to a later time, a copy of the order of adjournment shall be posted at the meeting site. (Government Code 54955)
If no members are present at any regular or adjourned regular meeting, 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)
Teleconferencing
A teleconference is a meeting of the Board in which Board members are in different locations, connected by electronic means, through either audio, video or both. (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)
During the teleconference, at least a quorum of the members of the Board shall participate from locations within District boundaries. (Government Code 54953)
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 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, including the right of the public to address the Board directly at each teleconference location. (Government Code 54953)
All Board policies, administrative regulations, and bylaws shall apply equally to meetings that are teleconferenced. The Superintendent or designee shall facilitate public participation in the meeting at each teleconference location.
Hearings
The Board may occasionally convene public hearings at which no Board action is to be taken. Such hearings are held solely to allow the Board and members of the public to receive information. A hearing may take place immediately prior to a Board meeting.
If a quorum of Board members is present at a hearing, notice of the hearing shall be provided according to procedures specified above for regular meetings.
Other Gatherings
Attendance by a majority of the Board members at any of the following events is not subject to State open meeting laws 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)
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a conference or similar public gathering that involves a discussion of issues of general interest to the public or to school boards;
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an open, publicized meeting organized by a person or organization other than the District to address a topic of local community concern;
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an open and noticed meeting of a legislative body of another local agency;
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a purely social or ceremonial occasion;
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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 open meeting laws. (Government Code 54952.2)
Legal Reference:
Education Code
35140 Time and place of meetings
35143 Annual organizational meeting, date, and notice
35144 Special meetings
35145 Public meetings
35145.5 Agenda; public participation; regulations
35146 Closed sessions
35147 Opening meeting law exceptions and applications
Government Code
54950-64957.9 Meetings, especially
54953 Meetings to be open and public; attendance
54954 Time and place of regular meetings; holidays; emergencies
54954.1 Mailed notices
54954.2 Agenda posting requirements, board actions
54954.3 Opportunity for public to speak
54956 Special meetings; call, notice
54956.5 Emergency meetings in emergency situations
54957.5 Agenda distribution
54961 Prohibition on use of certain facilities
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
First Reading: 3/10/01
Governing Board Adoption: 4/11/01