Why Your GEA President Attends all GSD Board of Education Meetings

Granite School District’s Board of Education values public education and educator input to create the policies, programs, and management of Granite School District. GEA PAC plays a vital role in interviewing and endorsing education friendly candidates for the GSD Board of Education. Having GEA’s president present at all Board meetings allows for instant feedback on behalf of teachers.

• To Be Informed

To effect positive change, teachers must be informed about current District issues. Board meetings provide opportunities to understand policy, listen to GSD Board discussions, and better understand the motivations and perspectives driving decisions. All policies the GSD Board votes on go through a minimum of two readings, at least a month apart. Attending board meetings allows GEA to be informed on all policies the Board is considering and to provide input between the readings.

• To Develop Relationships

Consistently attending monthly Board meetings helps develop relationships and lines of communication with the GSD Board of Education. Having a GEA presence allows the Board members to see that GEA is listening and invested in the discussions that occur as well as the decisions that are made. GEA consistently advocates to Board members for policy that empowers and improves our schools which in turn improves working conditions.

• To Be Heard

Public comment is a designated segment where community members and employees of the district can voice their opinions on District policies, improving District services, or request action from the GSD Board. In November your GEA president gave public comment requesting the GSD Board take action to mitigate teacher burnout and voice the extreme exhaustion many of us are feeling this year. In December, a group of teachers from Cottonwood High spoke during public comment to advocate for virtual Fridays as a solution to ease teacher burnout.Educator perspective should be heard as it validates what is happening in classrooms.  Utilizing the public comment forum helps to share an accurate picture of what is happening in schools.
GEA has the duty to represent teacher voice. Attending monthly GSD Board of Education meetings is one way that GEA consistently works with the District to create a better working environment for educators and a high-quality school experience for our students.
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How to Participate in Public Comment:

1. You must sign up 24 hours in advance by calling the District Communications office at 385-646-4529 or completing the Comment Sign Up Form: https://www.graniteschools.org/board/public-comment/ . Your request must be confirmed before your name will be placed on the list of possible speakers.
2. Begin by thanking the Board for their service. Board members are elected to serve our community and schools. 
3. Be solution oriented. Express your concerns in a professional manner following up with ideas on how to effectively address your concerns. 
4. Prepare and practice your statement as you only have five minutes to speak. 
5. Realize the GSD Board will not be able to further discuss your comments during the meeting. By law, they can only discuss items on the Board’s agenda.

 
GEA is here to support and help you in participating in public comment. Please email or give us a call if you would like more information.