- Kent School District
- Board Meetings
RM: March 25, 2020
Board Meetings During District Closure Due to COVID-19
Gov. Jay Inslee announced new measures on March 24, 2020 to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19, this includes impacts on Open Public Meetings such as our Board Meetings. This proclamation suspends certain statutory requirements in the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Public Records Act (PRA) for 30 days.
The OPMA requires public meetings have facilities made available for people to attend. Waving this requirement works to prevent the gathering of people to further curb the spread of the virus. However, governing bodies may only address “necessary and routine matters” as defined in RCW 42.30.020, or matters necessary to address the COVID-19 outbreak, for the 30 days the proclamation is active.
Read the full proclamation here.
Purpose of School Board Meeting
The purpose of board meetings is for the board to conduct its business in public, not to provide a public forum.
Virtual Board Meeting March 25, 2020
The Kent School Board will hold the March 25, 2020 board meeting virtually via Zoom.
- The meeting will be livestreamed for the public as usual via our Kent School District Board Meetings YouTube channel.
- The public can also call in as our school board is taking advantage of Zoom technology to conduct business for this meeting.
- Time: Mar 25, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time (US and Canada)
- Telephone Audio Dial: (253) 215-8782
- Meeting ID: 983 823 536
These options allow the public to attend the proceedings through telephonic access or internet and provide the ability for all persons attending the meeting to hear each other at the same time.
Public Comment Submission Form
Although it is not a requirement of the Open Public Meetings Act, the Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings.
Given the March 23, 2020, order from Governor Inslee to “Stay Home, Stay Safe” to all Washington residents, public comment for the March 25 board meeting will be accepted via the following virtual process.
The public is encouraged to submit comments via the online Kent School Board Meeting Public Comment form.
- All comments must be submitted 30 minutes before the meeting begins and are limited to 450 words.
- All required fields must be completed or the comment will be considered invalid.
Comments will be read by the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/Board during the public comment portion of the meeting, unless marked for a specific agenda item. Comments provided will become part of the public record.
Questions raised at a board meeting through submitted public comment speaking to an issue may require further investigation and answers will be posted on the district’s website.
The president may interrupt or terminate submitted public comment when it is too lengthy, obscene, or irrelevant. Abusive public comments personally directed towards staff members will be not be tolerated. The board as a whole will have the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings.
The public may submit written material to the superintendent's office at least one week in advance of the meeting when providing board members with background information.