I.    PURPOSE

1. The School Board embraces accountability and transparency in the conduct of its business. The School Board shall conduct its business under a presumption of in-person attendance at board meetings. However, the School Board recognizes and respects that in limited circumstances board members may need to participate remotely in board meetings. The public interest is best served when there is full participation by the School Board.
    
2. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines when board members may participate remotely.

II.    GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

Except as otherwise expressly provided by statute and enumerated reasons in this policy, all meetings of the School Board shall be attended in person.

III.    DEFINITIONS

1.  “Meeting” means a gathering of at least a quorum of School Board members or quorum of a committee or subcommittee of School Board members, at which members discuss, decide, or receive information as a group on issues relating to the official business of the School Board. The term does not include a chance or social gathering or the use of social media by members of a public body so long as the social media use is limited to exchanges with all members of the general public. For purposes of the Open Meeting Law, social media does not include e-mail.
    
2. “Quorum” means a majority of members are present for participation. Each member of a body participating in a meeting by interactive technology is considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and participating in all proceedings.

IV.    NOTICE

Notice of regular and all member locations: If interactive technology is used to conduct a regular, special, or emergency meeting, the public body shall provide notice of the regular meeting location and that members may be participating in the meeting by interactive technology. The timing and method of providing notice shall be the same as other meetings pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.04.

V.    PROCEDURES

School Board meetings may be conducted by interactive technology under the following conditions:

1. All school board members participating in the meeting, wherever their physical location, can hear and see one another and can hear and see all discussion and testimony presented at any location at which at least one member is present;
    
2. members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the body can see and hear all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the body;
    
3. members must be in a location free from interference from others;
    
4. members must have a reliable and stable internet connection;
    
5. at least one member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting location; and
    
6. all votes shall be conducted by roll call so each member’s vote on each issue can be identified and recorded.

Legal References:

Minn. Stat. Ch. 13 (Minnesota Government Data Practices Act)
Minn. Stat. Ch. 13D (Open Meeting Law)