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 * 1. A description of the characteristics of a typical school board meeting written agenda **

A full agenda for the Jordan School District board meeting form July 30th can be found at http://www.boarddocs.com/ut/wjsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=993NNM5FF07C

The basic format goes as follows: -Pledge of Allegiance -Reverence -Resolutions of Appreciation -Recognitions -Comments by elected officials -Patron comments -General Business -Bids -Special Business Items -Information Items -Discussion Items -Adjourn


 * 2**. ** A discussion on how the agenda was followed/carried out during the meeting **

The meeting followed the agenda exactly during the Jordan School District meeting I attended on the 30th of July. I think they try to keep to the script because the meetings are already long and boring enough. They don't want to add to the monotony.


 * 3. An explanation of the ways in which the school district observed federal Open Meeting requirements **

The meeting was posted more than 7 days before the meeting occurred. It also posted subject matter, time, place and whether it was open or closed. Minutes were also recorded for the meeting. The public was welcome, although I only counted 23 people who were not on the board. About 10 of these people were presented with an award or were actively involved in the meeting. So, in reality, only about 13 people attended the meeting for the distinct purpose of attending.


 * 4. A description of procedures (written and observable) associated with executive or closed sessions before, during or at the end of the public meeting **

They started the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. I thought this gave the meeting a very formal, governmental/business meeting feel. (It lacked the vigor my 8th graders recite it with though) They then offered a reverence, which felt like a prayer, but omitted any religious names or vocabulary. The meeting then offered Resolutions of Appreciation and gave Recognitions to a few teachers in the audience. This was a good positive way to start a meeting. Before the dive into the business, it was nice to focus on the good that the school district is doing. They then had a very brief comment by an elected official. This was boring. They finished opening the meeting with Patron Comments. This was the best part of the meeting. The patrons must have crawled out from under the dankest rocks in Herriman. I lack the descriptive words necessary to describe two of the women who were concerned about their children’s education. The best thing about these two women, their children attend my school! In general, we have amazing parents in Herriman, Utah, but these two were the epitome of parents who have nothing better to do than look for faults in education and criticize. It was hard not to laugh out loud. I have no idea how the superintendent and Board members kept a strait face.


 * 5. A group reflection on new insights to the legal aspects of school board meeting **

I learned that school board meetings can be both very entertaining and very boring. I though it was very funny when members of the community were given three minutes to “vent.” These patron comments were hilarious. There were two women who were vehement about increased taxes, how common core was going to be the downfall of public education, and much much more. In the future, if they want to be taken seriously, they should comb the rat’s nests out of their hair… just say’n.

I also learned that there is a process behind each meeting. For what felt like an eternity, there were no wasted minutes. There was a need and a process for each item on the agenda.

I do not have the patience to ever be a school board member of a superintendent. This meeting was boring, but in a sense, it has to be boring. These people are dealing with millions of dollars and dealing with members of the community who would best fit communities on different planet.