Effective Boardsmanship The Brown Act

California’s Brown Act, or open meeting law, affect what school board members can say or not say, whether that be in-person or in social media.

Brown Act meeting rule set-asides during the COVID pandemic are set to expire. Two veteran attorneys talk about returning to the “default” rules along with newer provisions in the law.

The workshop is presented by the San Bernardino County School Boards Association, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and the Inland Personnel Council.


Please share your thoughts about this training though a short survey - https://bit.ly/2021EffectiveBoardsman...


Slide deck materials - https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/images/Do...

0:00 – Brown Act Intro
4:39 – What is a Legislative Body?
5:08 – What is a meeting
11:40 – New Rules for Social Media
15:46 – Serial Meeting Scenario
15:46 – Exceptions Under the Pandemic
21:14 – Agendas
32:22 – Meeting Requirements/Conduct
36:09 – Minutes of Meetings
37:47 – Public Comment
44:09 – Dealing with Disruptions
50:54 – Hypothetical Brown Act Violation
54:08 – Closed Sessions
1:01:17 – Who Can Attend Closed Sessions?
1:05:52 – Employee Evaluation and Discipline
1:09:26 – Closed Sessions and Labor Negotiations
1:11:41 – Closed Sessions and Advice of Counsel
1:16:06 – Returning to Open Session from Closed Session
1:18:31 – Closed Sessions Personnel Actions
1:19:47 – Board Communications
1:28:55 – Communications from Labor Organizations
1:30:31 – Communication Do’s and Don’ts
1:36:50 – Resetting Norms After COVID
1:41:30 – Enforcement
1:46:04 – Q&A
1:58:34 – Outro