Public input can be expressed by emailing, writing, or calling Board of Education members, meeting with a Member, or speaking during the Public Comment portion of a regular Board meeting. Emails should be addressed to board@csdecatur.net, a distribution list that includes all Members and the Superintendent. Although communications to the entire Board are preferred and are usually most effective, Members' individual email addresses are posted under their biographies on the CSD website. Before addressing the Board, individuals are urged to seek a satisfactory solution to their concerns by following the proper staff and administrative channels, such as ResolveCSD.

For scheduling purposes at regular Board meetings, prospective speakers during the public participation item on the agenda must sign up at least one hour before the period of public comment is scheduled to begin, or email their comments to board@csdecatur.net at least 24 hours prior to the Board meeting. Participants are invited to sign up for public comment in person and virtually, using the public comment sign-up form. The Board will set aside up to 60 minutes or twenty (20) speakers on the agenda of its regular meetings to hear comments from the public in accordance with these procedures. The Board welcomes feedback and comments from the Decatur community. This form is offered as another method of providing such feedback.

During the January 14, 2025, Board meeting, the following procedures were adopted by the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education in accordance with Policy BCBI and BCBI-R(1), providing the Rules of Conduct for all Board meetings in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-58. Please read the procedures for policy BCBI below before continuing.

All attendees shall remember that while the meetings are open to the public, the purpose of the meeting is to conduct the business of the school system and members of the public are invited to participate only as allowed by Board policy and these procedures.

1. Members of the public shall conduct themselves in a respectful manner that is not disruptive to the conduct of the Board's business. Signs, flags, and banners are prohibited inside the Board meeting room.
2. Each member of the public participating in public comment will be given no more than three minutes to speak. The Board or its Chair may limit further the total time allocated for public participation, as well as further limit the length of individual comments during public participation, at its discretion for the purpose of the efficient operation of the business of the meeting. 
3. Only residents of the School District, representatives of businesses or organizations located in the District, parents or guardians of students attending the schools of the District, or school system employees may address the Board during public participation. No individual or group will be retaliated against, in any manner whatsoever, for speaking during public participation.
4. The Board requires that any group or organization appoint a single representative to address the Board. 
5. All speakers shall address the Board by first stating their names. All remarks shall be made to the Board as a body and addressed through the Chair. Remarks shall not be addressed to individual Board members. 
6. Personnel matters shall not be discussed. Specifically, no individual employee shall be named, identified or discussed. Where appropriate, the public is urged to follow other resolution processes at individual schools, in Board policy, or where those processes are clearly designed to address the issue.
7. Individual students and pending litigation are not subjects for public participation. Where appropriate, the public is urged to follow other resolution processes set forth in Board policy or available at individual schools, in Board policy, or where those processes are clearly designed to address the issue. to be raised. 
8. Speakers are asked to keep their remarks civil. The use of obscene, profane, vulgar, physically threatening or abusive remarks will not be allowed. Loud and boisterous conduct or comments by speakers or members of the audience are not allowed. 
9. The Board will not respond to comments made by the speaker during public participation unless a member of the Board chooses to ask a question. Speakers should remain at the microphone while answering questions. 
10. Speakers wishing to provide the Board with any handouts must provide those to the Chief of Staff or designated staff prior to beginning their comments. Speakers should not approach the dais at any time during the Board meeting.
11. Speakers are not permitted to "yield" their floor or transfer their unused time to other speakers.

By reading and acknowledging acceptance prior to speaking during public participation, speakers attest that they understand and will abide by these procedures. The Chair of the Board is responsible for enforcing these procedures. Those attending a meeting or speaking during public participation who violate these procedures will be warned by the Chair. A continued violation may result in a speaker being asked to sit down. If any person attending a meeting refuses to follow these rules disrupting the meeting, they will be asked to leave, and if they refuse, be escorted from the meeting room. Such serious or repeated violations of the rules of conduct may result in the individual being prohibited from speaking during a board meeting for an appropriate period of time. Any attendee violating the laws of the State while on District property or attending a meeting of the Board shall be subject to arrest by law enforcement.

(Website and Form updated August 8, 2025)