Public Comment

How to Give Public Comment at Board Meetings

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) appreciate your interest in sharing public comment at the monthly board meeting. Individuals may sign up one week before the specified board meeting by emailing a request to publiccomment@schools.utah.gov.

Please note: The USBE/USDB board meetings occur on Friday afternoons, usually the first Friday of each month. If your comments concern USDB matters, please specify in your email request that you would like to speak at the Friday meeting. If you need specific accommodations (ex. ASL interpreter), please include those in your request. Commenters may attend in-person or virtually. 

At any time, you are welcome to send written comments to the Board at board@schools.utah.gov. Communications sent to this email address will be received by all board members, the USBE superintendency, and select board staff. Please include the city where you live in your email so your recognized board member may choose to reply personally.

Public Comment Disclaimer

Please note, failure to follow the below guidelines during public comment may result in action, including but not limited to: termination of your time to give comment, removal from the meeting, and future restriction to written public comment only. 

1. Public comments are limited to two minutes per person (certain exceptions may be granted upon discretion of the Board Chair).
2. A comment can express simple support or dissent for regulatory action. However, a constructive comment supported with evidence, data, and information is more likely to influence regulatory decision-making.
3. Individuals should not use public comment to complain about personnel issues or attack or defame an individual.
4. Speakers making a highly detailed or complex comment should also consider providing a written outline of their words to the Board.
5. Please remember that children may hear your comments. Be thoughtful and professional.
6. Keep your comments appropriate for a general audience. If you have material with explicit language/content, submit such material in writing to the Board at publiccomment@schools.utah.gov.

Standing Committee Meetings

Individuals who want to comment on a specific agenda item(s) during a USDB standing committee meeting should contact the secretary of the committee, Andrea Curtin, at least 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. The USDB Standing Committee meets virtually to allow for proper ASL interpretation and caption services.