What is the “Public Comments” part?
Most questions about District 97 can and should be answered by the appropriate individuals at your neighborhood school or at the central office. However, you are welcome to address the board on any issue that is on the table for discussion or action. Time is set aside at the beginning of each meeting for this purpose.

If you would like to address the board, please print your name, address, and the subject of your communication on the sign-up sheet provided. The board president will acknowledge you in the order your name appears on the list. You will be asked if you would like to speak at that time or wait until a specified item on the agenda comes up for discussion.

Please keep your spoken comments brief. If other speakers have already expressed your perspective, please indicate this and give the board president a copy of your remarks in lieu of speaking. (It is helpful to distribute a copy of your remarks in any case.)

The board may not be prepared to respond to your comments immediately, wishing instead to follow up after gathering more information or engaging in further discussion. It is helpful if you call the superintendent’s office ahead of time to let us know the nature of your communication so that the superintendent can prepare the board with appropriate background information as necessary. Please remember, the board is prohibited by law from discussing matters relating to individuals in open session.

You may also ask to be acknowledged during discussion portions of the evening even if you did not plan to speak. The board president will recognize brief comments under these circumstances when time permits.

If you cannot attend a particular board meeting, but wish to comment on a specific topic, you may write, fax, or e-mail your statement to the central office and your comments will be distributed to the board.