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Meeting Participation

The Board of Education of Howard County encourages citizens of Howard County to attend its meetings and extends a welcome to you.

The Board meets as a body on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. These regular monthly meetings begin at 4 p.m. At this session, the Board acts on its business and administrative agenda. After a dinner break, the Board may reconvene at 7:30 p.m. Public hearings and public work sessions are usually held at this later time.

Opportunities for Citizen Participation

There are multiple opportunities for citizens to address the Board of Education.

• Public Forum - At the beginning of each afternoon and evening session of the regular meetings, the Board sets aside time for up to 5 citizens to bring subjects of concern which are not on that meeting's agenda to the Board's attention. Citizens are asked not to use the informal Public Forum to address issues which might be in a current formal public hearing process, e.g., a specific policy, budget, or a boundary lines proposal. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.
  
  
• Public Hearings - The Board encourages public participation by setting aside time during regular and special meetings when the public may provide verbal testimony on specific topics (i.e. individual policies, school calendar proposals, budget, boundary line proposals, etc.). Persons may pre-register during business hours during the three weeks prior to the hearing up to the close of business on the last working day before the hearing. Citizens are asked to limit their oral testimony to three minutes. More detailed written testimony is welcomed. Participants are asked to provide 15 written copies of their testimony before or at the time of the hearing. To sign up for a public hearing, call the Board of Education Office at 410-313-7194.
  
  
• Work Sessions - The Board also schedules meetings or public work sessions, as needed, to discuss specific topics. These meetings provide an opportunity for the Board to deliberate and discuss an issue before the public.
  
  
• Regular Monthly Meetings - The Board of Education generally holds its regular meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month beginning at 4 p.m. From time to time, citizens may wish to present an item on the Board's agenda. To do so, a citizen should submit a written request briefly stating the nature of the presentation. Such requests should be addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Education. Final determination as to date and time will be made by the Chairman.
  
  
• Letters - The Board welcomes letters from citizens. A letter addressed to the Chairman will be copied to all members, including the Superintendent.
  
  
• Phone Calls -  Because members of the Board do not have offices at the Department of Education, Board members welcome calls from citizens at their homes.

What Your Board of Education Does

In Maryland, local boards of education represent the citizens in matters of public education. The Board of Education makes education policy, approves and expends the funds appropriated to education, hires the Superintendent, acts on recommendations of the Superintendent regarding the hiring of professional employees, and acts in a quasi-judicial role in administrative hearings.

To fulfill these obligations, pursuant to Section 4-106, Education Article, and Section 10-508, State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, Executive, or closed, Sessions are permitted and may be called by the Chairman, any member, or the Superintendent.

Rules for Public Conduct at Public Meetings

In accordance with Section 10-507 of the Open Meetings Law, the Howard County Board of Education has adopted the following rules governing the conduct of persons attending its meetings and the videotaping, televising, photographing, broadcasting, or recording of meetings. These procedures exist to provide maximum opportunity for public access to meetings of the Board of Education of Howard County and to ensure as little disruption as possible to the proceedings.

General conduct

Members of the public who attend meetings of the Board of Education should be mindful of the official nature of the proceedings and that the Chairman of the Board of Education is the presiding official. Loud outbursts, demonstrations, or other activities determined by the Chairman to be disruptive to the proceedings are prohibited during meetings. Members of the public may address the Board when called upon to do so by the Chairman. Members of the public are asked to refrain from having conversations in the Board room while a Board of Education meeting is in session.

Tape Recordings, Photographs and Videotaping

Tape recording of Board of Education meetings is permitted. Microphones for audio recording may be placed on the Board desk or the public speakers' podium before the meeting is called to order and removed during recess or after adjournment.

Use of still cameras is permitted during Board meetings provided flash attachments are used with discretion and do not present an unnecessary disruption to the proceedings. Photographers may photograph from the center aisle of public seating but must stay behind the first row of seats.

Use of video cameras is permitted during Board meetings provided they do not present an unnecessary disruption to the proceedings. Camera operators may film from the center aisle of public seating but must stay behind the first row of chairs. Microphones for audio recording may be placed on the Board desk or the public speakers' podium before the meeting is called to order and removed during recess or after adjournment. Persons who are videotaping or taking photographs are asked to be courteous to those in attendance by not blocking their view of the proceedings.

Board of Education meetings are broadcast live, and then rebroadcast at later dates on Cable Channel 72. Cable 72 cameras are not restricted to the center aisle but must be in position before the meeting begins.

Failure to Comply

Those who fail to follow the above procedures will be recognized by the Chairman of the Board of Education and asked to comply. Should the offender fail to comply after a request from the Chairman, he or she will be barred from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with the Maryland Open Meetings Law which states:

If the presiding officer determines that the behavior of an individual is disrupting an open session, the public body may have the individual removed. Unless the public body or its members or agents acted maliciously, the public body, members, and agents are not liable for having an individual removed under this subsection.