The Sumner County Board of Education transacts all business at official meetings. Meetings of the Board, except those with the Board's attorney to discuss pending or threatened litigation, are open to the public.

All powers of the Board lie in its action as a group. The 11 individual members exercise their authority over school system affairs only as they vote at offical meetings. Six members must be in attendance for the Board to hold an official meeting. A simple majority vote of the Board's total membership is required to approve most matters. With 11 members in office, six votes are required for approval of an item under consideration, even if members are absent.

Meeting Notices

To find out when the Board is scheduled to meet, please check our Home Page News Highlights or our Events Calendar. Agendas are posted on Fridays prior to meetings on the Agendas and Minutes page of this website. Minutes are posted once they are approved by the Board. Special or rescheduled meetings will be announced on the district's Home Page as soon as possible after such decisions are made.

Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board shall be held on the third Tuesday night of each month at 7 P.M. in the Board Meeting Room of the Education Central Office, located at 695 East Main Street  in Gallatin. By majority vote, the Board may reschedule a regular meeting. In the case of emergency, the Executive Committee, made up of the Director of Schools and the Board Chairperson, may reschedule a meeting as long as a three (3) day notice is given.

Special Meetings

The Board shall hold such special meetings as necessary to transact the business of the Board.  Such meetings shall be called by the chairperson whenever, in his/her judgment, the interests of the schools require it, or when requested to do so by a majority of the Board. Only business related to the call of the meeting and details related to agenda items shall be discussed or transacted by the Board at a special meeting.

Study Sessions

The Board may meet in study sessions to discuss any matter of interest to the Board or school district. Study sessions shall be presided over by the vice chairman. No votes are to be taken during a study session. Study Sessions are open to the public, and they are typically scheduled for 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of a month.

Appearing Before the Board

Individuals desiring to appear before the Board shall be classified by the following two categories:
1. An individual desiring to speak about a Board agenda item; or
2. An individual desiring to speak about a K-12 education issue not on the Board's agenda.

Any individual speaking to the Board shall address remarks to the Chairperson and may direct questions to individual Board members or staff members only upon approval of the Chairperson. Members of the Board and the Director of Schools have the privilege of asking questions of any individual who addresses the Board. The Chairperson shall have the authority to terminate the remarks of the individual who does not adhere to the rules or who is considered abusive. Board policy prohibits individuals from addressing the Board with complaints against any district employee prior to completing the district's formal complaint procedure. An individual will be limited to no more than five (5) minutes as determined by the Chairperson. The time for an individual to speak may be extended up to an additional three (3) minutes by a majority vote of the Board.

Individuals desiring to appear before the Board to speak about an item that is on the Board's agenda must complete a sign up form prior to the beginning of the Board meeting.  The sign up form shall include the individual's name, home address, and item(s) on the agenda that the individual desires to address.

Individuals desiring to appear before the Board to speak to a K-12 education issue not on the Board's agenda must request placement on the agenda by contacting the Supervisor of Board and Community Relations at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. The individual must submit his/her name, home address, telephone number, and subject of presentation in writing. Unless the issue cannot be placed on the agenda due to law, Board policy or  contract, or by Board action, the individual and subject of presentation shall be placed on the agenda as follows:  the Director and Chairperson may place the individual on the agenda for the next Board meeting or defer the request one Board meeting in order to allow school staff to research and/or address the individual's request.  The Director will notify the individual in writing if a deferral decision is made. If you wish to be placed on an upcoming agenda to speak about an issue, contact Supervisor of Board and Community Relations Jeremy Johnson.