Des Moines Christian School Board
Visitor Guidelines
Visitors are always welcome and encouraged to attend Open Session meetings of the DMCS Board of Directors. The purpose of this document is to identify guidelines for your visit and what you can expect at the meeting.
The DMCS Board of Directors has standing meetings on the first and third Monday of each month. The first standing meeting is from 6:45 PM – 10:00 PM, and the second meeting is from 6:45 PM – 7:30 PM before Board Committee meetings. The meeting schedule may vary throughout the year based on holidays and school events, and additional Special Meetings are scheduled from time to time. The agenda for a Board meeting is available 2-3 days before the meeting on the home page of the DMCS web site at www.dmcs.org.
The DMCS Board of Directors meets in Open Session and Closed Session. Open Session is defined as the “public” part of the Board meeting in which non-sensitive agenda items are discussed. Closed Session attendance is available only to Directors, the Superintendent, and whomever is needed to address a particular agenda item.
It is not necessary to call ahead or make reservations to attend a Board meeting as a visitor, unless you intend to address the Board (see below). If you are interested in hearing discussion on a particular agenda item, please keep in mind that timeframes set on the agenda or stated ahead of time are approximate and may vary. Having a particular item on the agenda is not always a guarantee that the agenda item will be discussed in that meeting. It is not uncommon for some items to be tabled until a later meeting.
When you arrive at the Board meeting, please check for a sign that indicates if the Board is currently in Closed Session. If the sign is present or the door to the meeting room is closed, please wait outside the room until the Board resumes Open Session. If no sign is present, or if the door to the meeting room is open, you may enter anytime during the Open Session part of the meeting and take a seat in the visitors area – usually a row of chairs not at the Board table.
You must sign and date the visitor sign-in sheet, which will be located near the visitors area, or it will be given to you by an officer of the Board.
The DMCS Board of Directors conducts business according to Robert’s Rules of Order per board policy. Please consult the Robert’s Rules web site: http://www.robertsrules.com for detailed descriptions of the rules and procedures.
Visitors may not participate in Board discussions, ask questions, or make comments during the Board meeting. A visitor who is disruptive during the meeting will be considered out of order and asked to leave the meeting.
If you would like to address the Board regarding an issue related to the educational programs or operation of DMCS, please contact the Board President or the Superintendent at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Your topic and time on the agenda will be confirmed by the Board President or Superintendent. When you arrive at the meeting please follow the arrival guidelines listed above. You will be recognized by the meeting Chair when it is your time to address the Board. You are required to bring 15 printed copies, in either outline or short synopsis form, of your topic and key points to the meeting. Please keep your presentation brief (less than 5 minutes total or as extended at the discretion of the Chair). The Board may, but is not required to, ask you questions about your presentation. The Board is not required to take any action related to your presentation.
Should you have any questions about a particular meeting or agenda item, please contact the Board President, Vice-President, or the Superintendent.