Attending a Board Meeting: Know Before You Go

• Most board meetings take place at Mercer Elementary ( 2600 Bartels Rd 45244), typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
• Mercer shares parking lots with Turpin High School. Consider checking the Forest Hills for potential events that might necessitate arriving earlier to allow time for parking.
  • Mercer Elementary  School Calendar
  • Turpin High School Calendar
  • Turpin Athletics Sports Schedule
• Meetings take place in Mercer’s Auditorium, which is to the right of the lobby. Restrooms are to your left in the lobby.
• If the number of attendees is over capacity, an overflow area to watch the meeting will be in the Mercer cafeteria, which is straight ahead of the lobby. Sometimes seats in the Auditorium will open up after the first few items on the agenda take place. Note: If there are technical issues, the overflow might not be available.
• When you enter the Auditorium, a sign-in sheet is usually to the right on a small table.. What happens at board meetings is public record, including your attendance. 
• If you’d like to speak, arrive early and grab a speaker form from the FHSD staff near the stage.
• People sometimes come and go from meetings, so if you’re late or can’t stay the whole time, it’s OK. Just leave or enter quietly. 
• The board meeting participants are often dressed in business or business casual dress, but attendees at meetings are usually dressed casually.
• Eating and drinking are not permitted; water bottles should be OK.
• People sometimes bring their younger kids and offer them a quiet activity like a tablet (and earphones!)  or coloring sheet. If you are bringing kids, consider sitting where you can easily exit if needed.

Speaking at Board Meetings: Quick Tips

• If possible, prepare your remarks in advance.
• Consider arriving early to ensure you get a speaking slot. Usually, they collect the forms a few minutes before the meeting begins.
• Jodie McKinley, assistant to Superintendent Larry Hook manages the speaker forms. The forms request your name, street address and the topic you wish to address. Be sure to submit the form to Jodie before the meeting begins. Look for her or another staffer down by the stage where the board members and school officials sit during the meeting. Hint: To speed up the process, bring your own ink pen.
• Public remarks are not at the beginning of the meeting, but you must sign in to speak BEFORE the meeting begins. Public commentary can vary from 30-60  minutes into the meeting. Check the agenda for board meetings HERE.
• When the Board President opens the meeting for Public Commentary, they will include the amount of time allotted to each speaker. If there are few speakers, you should expect 3 minutes (You don’t have to use all 3!)  If more than 10 are speaking, the time will be reduced.  Usually, every speaker receives at least 1 minute to speak. Remember your comments are public record.

Speaking at a Board Meeting: Dos and Don’ts

• DO prepare your remarks in advance if you can, a short 1-minute version and a longer version up to 3 minutes if desired.
• DO arrive early and sign up in advance.
• DO include personal anecdotes or information that makes your commentary unique from what other speakers might say. Studies show that including personal stories rather than simply quoting facts or research is more effective in communicating your point. (If you don’t have one, that’s OK!)
• DO keep your commentary focused on the board/district. Avoid calling out individuals with personal attacks.
• DON’T include any information about personnel matters. That is restricted due to privacy and legal reasons. 
• DON’T get in a back and forth with a board member. If they ask for specific follow-up information in the moment, you can respond. But board meetings are THEIR meetings and public comment is not a back-and-forth discussion.
• DO feel free to share your public comment with the board by email so that a written version is part of the public records. Email to board@foresthills.edu.