Public Comment at Pasco County School Board Meetings
The School Board of Pasco County holds a number of different types of meetings, all of which are described in more detail in the relevant policies. Meetings are held in the School Board Complex at 7205 Land O'Lakes Boulevard, Building #3, Land O’Lakes, FL 34638, unless otherwise indicated in the meeting notice. Regular School Board Meetings and Workshops are streamed live and archived on the Pasco County Schools YouTube Channel.
School Board Meetings are shown and recorded in their entirety with the exception of closed student discipline appeals, employee matters, and public comment on school matters of community interest (items that are not on an agenda – this general public comment opportunity occurs at the end of each Regular School Board Meeting). The School Board Meeting Calendar can be found at this link: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/school_board/page/calendar/. Below is a summary of the different types of meetings. Please review the specific language in each referenced policy for more specific information.
- Regular School Board Meetings are held twice per month, at 9:30 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, and at 6:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month, respectively, unless otherwise announced. Regular School Board Meetings are held to conduct the official business of The School Board of Pasco County, Florida. Agendas are published on the district’s website seven (7) days before the Regular School Board Meeting. At Regular School Board Meetings, members of the public are invited to:
- provide public comment on any proposition (an action item on the agenda) before the School Board, and
- provide public comment on school matters of community interest (items that are not on an agenda – this general public comment opportunity occurs at the end of each Regular School Board Meeting)
If you wish to address the School Board, either for an action item on the agenda or for items not on the agenda, complete the appropriate online form:
See Policy 0165.2 – Regular Meetings and Policy 0169.1 – Public Participation at School Board Meetings.
- Special Meetings, though infrequent, are held as needed and are afforded the most appropriate, effective, and reasonable notice under the circumstances. Special Meetings are intended to be limited to specific matters. The public is afforded the opportunity to provide public comment on items that are on the agenda for the Special Meeting. Agendas are published on the district’s website as soon as possible before the Special Meeting.
See Policy 0165.3 Special and Emergency Meetings.
- Emergency Meetings,though infrequent, are held when there is an immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare that requires immediate attention. Emergency Meetings are intended to be limited to specific emergencies. The public is afforded the opportunity to provide public comment on items that are on the agenda for the Emergency Meeting. Agendas are published on the district’s website as soon as possible before the Emergency Meeting .
See Policy 0165.3 Special and Emergency Meetings.
- The School Board also holds Workshops to explore matters which constitute the business of the school system. Workshops offer an opportunity for the School Board and Board personnel to communicate information and engage in a general discussion. The School Board does not take any formal action in a Workshop so the public may not participate in discussions or provide public comment. Any final decisions with respect to issues which may be brought up at a Workshop will be brought forward at a Regular School Board Meeting or Special Meeting at which the public has the opportunity to provide public comment. Agendas are published on the district’s website seven (7) days before the Workshop.
See Policy 0166.1 Workshops.
- Certain meetings are exempt from Florida’s Open Meetings laws and are therefore Exempt Meetings. Examples of such meetings include, but are not limited to: collective bargaining “executive sessions”; “shade meetings” in which the School Board, Superintendent, and the School Board’s attorney discuss pending litigation to which the School Board is presently a party before a court or administrative agency; student expulsion hearings; portions of a meeting relating directly to or that would reveal security and fire safety systems; risk management sessions; and any other meetings permitted to be exempt under Florida law. The public is not entitled to attend or provide public comment at Exempt Meetings.
See Policy 0166 – Exempt Meetings.
- The School Board is required by Section 1001.371, Florida Statutes, to hold an Annual Reorganization Meeting. Because this is a ministerial meeting, there will be no opportunity for the public to provide input. Agendas are published on the district’s website seven (7) days before the Annual Reorganization Meeting.
- The School Board recognizes the value to school governance of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest. The opportunity to be heard is subject to the following guidelines:
- Each statement made by a member of the public shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes in duration, once per meeting.
- The time period may be extended by the presiding officer as may be warranted under the circumstances (e.g., multiple public hearing items, agenda amendments, etc).
See Policy 0169.1 – Public Participation at School Board Meetings.