Rules of Conduct for Altura Preparatory School Governing Board Meetings

The public may attend Governing Board meetings and may address their issues and concerns within the limitations set by the Altura Preparatory School’s Governing Board, First Amendment Rights, and by law.

The Altura Preparatory School community expects that all Governing Board meetings will be conducted by following proper decorum and assumes that its community will behave civilly, peacefully, and professionally. To ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors, the following rules are in effect:

Governing Board

The Altura Preparatory School's Governing Board members will treat Public Comment as a time to listen to the comments from attendees.  Public Comment will not be a time for Governing Board members to have an open dialogue with the speaker or ask questions.  Please be aware that Public Comment will also not be a time for Governing Board members to answer questions posed by a speaker or comment on a speaker's concerns. Upon expiration of the time limit, the Chairperson will thank the speaker. The speaker will be expected to stop speaking and either return to their seat or leave the Multipurpose Room or Altura Preparatory School property. 

Attendees

Attendees are not allowed to bring posters, banners, or other items that may disrupt the Governing Board meeting.  All attendees must be seated throughout the meeting; no one in attendance shall be allowed to stand on the sides or in the room's rear or the aisles. Anyone refusing to sit or remain seated will be required to leave the Multi-Purpose Room or the Altura Preparatory School campus.

It is a violation of law for attendees to engage in criminal acts that breach the peace during board meetings.  Attendees breaching the peace will be warned by the Chairperson and allowed to remain in the room, asked to leave the meeting and the Altura Preparatory School campus, or cited or arrested by the police. Attendees who are asked to leave meetings due to disruption may not return to a board meeting for 90 days.

Addressing the Board of Trustees

Attendees at regularly scheduled board meetings may address the Governing Board at the monthly Governing Board meetings during the designated Public Comment session of the Governing Board meeting only. 

Attendees wanting to speak at monthly Governing Board meetings must sign up by calling the school at 505.539.5369 by 3:00 pm the day before the regularly scheduled Governing Board meeting.

Speakers

Speakers have the opportunity to address the Governing Board during the Public Comment session of the regularly scheduled monthly Governing Board meetings.  Attendees wanting to speak at monthly Governing Board meetings must sign up by calling the school at 505.539.5369 during regularly scheduled business hours, 8:00-3:00 pm, the day before the regularly scheduled Governing Board meeting.

The earliest a person may register for an upcoming regular Governing Board meeting is the next regular business day following the posting of that meeting. The deadline for registering to address the Board is 3:00 pm the day before the regular Governing Board meeting. No registrations shall be accepted after 3:00 pm the day preceding the meeting.  Only those who are properly registered may address the Governing Board.

Speakers will be called in the order they registered to speak. Copies of any documents for the board are to be handed to the Chairperson of the Governing Board at that time.

Only one person may approach the microphone, and only the person at the microphone will be allowed to speak, except for interpreters.  There will be no substitution of speakers.

Attendees who have signed up to address the board are allotted three minutes to speak. The Chairperson will warn those who continue speaking after three minutes that their time is up. Upon expiration of the time limit, the attendee is expected to stop speaking and either return to their seat or leave the Multipurpose Room or Altura Preparatory School property. 

To ensure equity of access to address the Governing Board, an individual may not speak at two (2) consecutive Governing Board Meetings. If a speaker registers to speak at a consecutive Governing Board Meeting, the speaker will not be called to address the Governing Board.

Restrictions

Current or prospective vendors wishing to present products or services for purchase may not use the public participation portion of a Board meeting for this purpose.

Expected Behaviors

Courteous, respectful, and civil behavior is expected from all speakers and all persons attending a Board meeting.  Unsolicited comments and disruptive behavior are prohibited.  Disruptive individuals may be given a warning and also may, if necessary, be removed from the meeting. If any individual is removed from a meeting due to disruptive behavior, they may forfeit their right to re-entry to future Altura Preparatory School Governing Board Meetings.