Board of Education

How is it possible to attend board meetings and make public comment to the board during this pandemic?

The Clay County Board of Education always values input from our community. During normal times, the public is allowed to attend meetings and sign up for a 30-minute public comment period that allows each speaker three minutes to speak. At the end of the comment period, the Board, with a unanimous vote, can elect to extend the public comment period for that evening if they wish.

In our current circumstances, public attendance and comment is limited due to the pandemic. Our Board meetings are typically attended by the five board members, the superintendent, a staff member taking official minutes, our finance director, and a representative each from our local newspaper and radio station. This fills the 10-person limit provided by the governor's current executive order. Our meetings are also live-streamed from our district Facebook page for public viewing.

If a member of the public wishes to provide public comment, he/she will have to sign up at the boardroom door prior to 6:00 pm on the day of the meeting and remain in the hallway outside of the boardroom, keeping six feet of social distance from others, until called. Our finance director will step out so that one person at a time may step in while wearing a mask to address the Board. In this manner members of the public can enter and leave one at a time. Those members of the public that wish to share their thoughts with the Board without attending a meeting may email Superintendent Dale Cole at dcole@clayschools.org. Any emails will be shared with the Board for their review at their convenience after the meeting.

Thank you for your understanding and support.