Board Meeting Information

The Board updated policy BDDH Public Comment at Board Meetings and the process for public comment at the February 10, 2025 Regular Board Meeting.  The updated policy includes written, in person and virtual public comment options.  

Please review the detailed information about submitting written or providing in person or virtual public comment.    
Here are some highlights:

• Public comment is available at each Regular Board meeting.  Public Comment will be at the end of the agenda (unless required prior to action for an agenda item) and limited to 15 minutes.  
• In Person and Virtual commenters have 3 minutes each to share their public comment.
• Written public comments will be read independently by the Board prior to the meeting but will not be summarized or read during the meeting.  Board members may discuss a written public comment in the board meeting. The comments will be available in the updated board packet.
• Commenters may offer objective criticism of District operations and programs but the Board will not hear complaints criticizing specific student groups or individual district staff members. Concerns and Complaints will be handled following the steps outlined in Board Policy KL and Administrative Regulation KL-AR(1).

What are Listening Sessions?

Listening Sessions are designed for staff, parents, students and members of the community to ask questions and share information with Board members. The intent, as schedules allow, is to have one zone represented, with the chair and vice chair alternating at each session. Listening Sessions will not be recorded or live streamed.

The School Board will host four Listening Sessions in the school year with a time limit of 1 hour per session. The Board may use the first 5-10 minutes of each session to discuss zone or district business. The School Board of Directors may list a topic for a particular Listening Session in their zone if they feel it is appropriate. 

Listening Sessions for the 2025-26 academic school year will be held on the following dates from 5:30-6:30 pm:

• October 20, 2025 – Chair Mattingly (At Large 1) and Vice Chair Wilson (Zone 1)
• January 26, 2026 – Director Taylor (Zone 3) and Chair Mattingly (At Large 1) - Topic: Budget
• March 16, 2026 – Director McLaughlin (At Large 2) and Vice Chair Wilson (Zone 1)
• June 15, 2026 – Director Lunceford (Zone 2) and Chair Mattingly (At Large 1)

(Listening Sessions were adopted by the School Board of Directors on Sept. 27, 2021 during a Regular School Board meeting.)

Listening Session Guidelines

1. A sign-up sheet will become available prior to the session start time.  All district residents or guardians who have signed up will be allowed to speak prior to a second comment. Information required to be listed for residents or guardians to make a comment is name, affirmation of district residence, school, and topic.  
2. Comments will be limited to residents or guardians of students who attend school in the district. If a comment or question is being submitted by a guardian who lives outside the district, the guardian will be required to affirm they have a student attending GAPS who they are representing, and list the school where the student attends.
3. Each comment will be given an eight-minute time period. During this time, the comment can be delivered and discussed. Number of comments at each listening session will vary depending on length of comments. 
4. After the eight-minute period, we will move on to the next commenter. With that said, that does not mean the comment is complete. One of the school board directors or district staff may follow up as needed or appropriate.
5. If you don’t get your question answered or comment delivered, you are welcome to come to the next session.
6. Residents and guardians will have a limited number of comments per month at listening sessions.
7. Complaints about staff members will not be heard during listening sessions and must follow KL Concerns and Complaints and KL-AR Concern and Complaint Procedure. Following policy BDDH, speakers may offer objective criticism of district operations and programs, but the Board will not hear any criticism regarding specific student groups, district staff members, and district representatives.
8. Listening Sessions with Stakeholders will last a maximum of 1 hour.
9. School Board Directors may list a topic for a particular listening session in their zone if they feel it is appropriate. 
10. First 5-10 minutes of the listening session may be used by the director/s and or district staff to discuss zone/district business.

If you have questions regarding Listening Sessions, contact Chris Green, School Board Secretary (chris.green@albany.k12.or.us) or call 541-967-4511.

If you would like to share comments, ideas and opinions with the board, you can email the Board at gaps.school.board@albany.k12.or.us.  Using this email address will send your email to all board members, the Superintendent and the Board Secretary.

For more information about the Board, see the Board Members & Zones webpage.

Interested in information emails about the School Board regarding board meetings (agenda and documents), appointments (Budget Committee or School Board positions) or Listening Sessions?  Join the School Board Updates ParentSquare email group.  If you are having trouble joining the group, contact communications@albany.k12.or.us.