Governing Board Meetings

As has been a longtime practice, meetings are live streamed on the district YouTube channel and can be accessed at mpsaz.org/live. A recording will be available on YouTube within 24 hours of the conclusion of the meeting. Viewers may select their preferred language for subtitles on the recording. Live and archived meetings are available online for your viewing convenience.

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to participate in governing board meetings or individuals requesting language interpretation should contact Martha Head, assistant to the Governing Board, as far in advance as possible at 480-472-0201 or mehead@mpsaz.org.

Agendas are available at least 24 hours before the meeting. Items not on an agenda may not be discussed.

Attending a meeting
The Governing Board welcomes your attendance and appreciates your interest in Mesa students. Informed and involved community members who support education will help Mesa Public Schools in preparing young people for the work place.

All study sessions and regular and special meetings are open to the public. 

Regular meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in the Board Room of the Curriculum Services Center, 549 N. Stapley Drive, Mesa. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated in the public meeting notice and meeting agenda.

Accommodations for guests (updated Sept. 27, 2021)

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations should contact Martha Head at 480-472-0201 or mehead@mpsaz.org as far in advance as possible.

Individuals requesting language interpretation should contact Nina Allred at 480-472-0222 or ncallred@mpsaz.org as far in advance as possible.

We strongly encourage everyone to join us in keeping our schools safe by wearing masks while indoors.

Audience chairs are physically spaced. The entryway and lobby are kept clear for ease of access. For individuals who do not want to enter the Board Room, but wish to address the Board during a meeting, a microphone is available at the northwest side door and is accessible from the sidewalk. Individuals choosing to wait outside the Board Room will be notified via text when it is time to address the Board.

Regular meetings

• Action items such as personnel matters, the consent agenda, policy adoptions and other issues. The consent agenda contains items that are considered with one vote; the Board may pull any of the items and take a separate vote.
• Presentations about agenda items or future issues.
• Recognition of students, district staff members and volunteers.

If scout troops are in attendance at the meetings, the Board will recognize the young people and may ask a scout to lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Call 480-472-0223 for more information, or check in with the director at the meeting.

Study sessions

• Study sessions usually take place before regular meetings. 
• District staff may give presentations to offer information about a program or an upcoming issue, and agenda items for the regular meeting may be reviewed. 
• During a study session, the board may have discussion but no vote or official action is taken. 
• There is no public comment at study sessions.

Public participation
Per Governing Board Policy BDDH, a person may address the Board regarding any item of business listed on the agenda for action by the Board. Study sessions are held for the purpose of in-depth study of a matter. Accordingly, the Board will not receive public comment during a study session unless requested by the President. If a person wishes to address the Board regarding an item not on the agenda, the citizen may address the Board during an open call to the public, if a call to the public is listed on the agenda. Call to the public takes place at the second meeting of the month. Beginning Oct. 26, 2021, call to the public is scheduled toward the beginning of the meeting agenda.

For public comment on an agenda item please submit a request to address the board located in the board room lobby. Governing Board policy BDDH allows for 15 minutes of public comment and three minutes per speaker. Individual speaking time may be adjusted to maximize the number of participants. The Board president will call the names of those who ask to speak. Speakers should come forward to the microphone, state your name and address for the record, then share your comments with the Board. 

Community members who do not attend the meeting, may share their thoughts with Board members at any time through email. We encourage you to email prior to the meeting so the Board members have the opportunity to consider your input.

Arizona Open Meeting Law   
Arizona statutes allow the Board to meet in executive session, which is closed to the public, to discuss the following: personnel matters, meet and confer (employee negotiations), legal matters with attorneys, purchase or lease of real property and litigation.