The board values public comment on educational issues and recognizes the importance of involving school community members in its meetings. Public comment forms are available at each regular school board meeting.

To request to address the board during the public comment portion of the meeting, please complete the electronic public comment request form at the link below at least 24 hours prior to the board meeting.  This form also provides space for written comments to be provided to the board without presence at a board meeting.

Click Here to Access the Electronic Public Comment Request Form

Paper copy of public request forms are also available at each board meeting. These should be completed and provided to the Board Chair prior to the start of the meeting so the speaker can be called forward.

Our board has adopted policy/procedure 1400 - Meeting Conduct, Order of Business, and Quorum. This policy and procedure are available on the school district website and at each board meeting. By adopting this policy, board meetings must be conducted in a civil, orderly, and business -like manner. This means that whether we are school directors, district staff, students, members of the community, or some other guest, we all must follow the same standard of civility during school board meetings.

The total time allotted for each public commitment period is no more than 20 minutes. All comments will be considered under advisement with no response or action taken by the board. If you wish a written response by the board or their agent, this should be noted on your comment form.

Please note the following procedures:

• The board will allot three (3) minutes for each speaker. The Board Secretary will keep time.

• Each speaker is allowed one (1) public comment session per meeting, regardless if speaking for others

• Speakers should identify themselves and proceed to make comments within the time limit

• The board is not obligated to respond to questions or challenges made during the public comment period and the Board's silence will not signal agreement or endorsement of the speaker's remarks.

The chair may terminate an individual's statement when the allotted time has passed and may interrupt a speaker to require the same standard of civility that the board imposes on itself and Board Policy. Examples other than board policy are those actions or words that incite aggressive behavior such as threats and those that create a material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the board meeting.

Please remember that your words have impact and you, not the school district, are responsible for your words. We caution all speakers that it is possible that your statements could violate the rights of others under various laws, including laws protecting privacy and laws prohibiting defamation. If you are unsure of the legal effect of your remarks, you should seek independent legal advice. In any case, we ask that you help us model for our students what a respectful and inclusive community looks and sounds like.

The process to have your name/topic placed on a school board meeting agenda:  Contact the Superintendent (Board Secretary), at least eight (8) days in advance of the next regular school board meeting, in order to be properly placed on the school board agenda. Board policies: 1330, 1400, 1400P, 1410, 1420, 2020P, 2020F2, 3141, 3241, 3241P, 4220, 4220F2. If you have a complaint, please follow the Patron Complaint Procedure packet, which is available from the Principal's Office and/or Superintendent's Office.

Individuals who may need a modification due to a disability and/or require an interpreter to participate in a meeting of the board, should contact the the superintendent’s office no later than three (3) working days before a regular meeting and as soon as possible in advance of a special meeting so arrangements for modifications can be made.

Board meetings are generally held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the school library – 3201 South 4th Street, Union Gap, WA 98903. All meeting dates are posted on the website.

Each regular board meeting agenda is posted on the district web site at least three days prior to the regular board meeting; the agenda and minutes for each past meeting are also on the website.

In addition to speaking at a board meeting, you may contact the board by:

Emailing:
lgredvig@uniongap.org

Writing:
Union Gap Public School
Board of Directors
3201 South 4th Street
Union Gap, WA 98903

Calling:
Board Secretary (Superintendent)
509-248-3966; Extension 305
District website: http://www.uniongapschool.org