For parents and teachers

How to use board meetings

The Board of Education is the group of elected neighbors who run your school district. Here is how to follow what they decide and how to speak up.

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General information, not legal advice. Laws and district rules can change. For your exact case, read the law at the link or ask the district clerk. Checked Nov 7, 2026.

1. Board meetings are open to you

New York's Open Meetings Law says meetings of public bodies, including school boards, are open to the public. Source: Open Meetings Law (Public Officers Law, Article 7).
If a meeting is set a week or more ahead, the public notice (time and place) must be posted at least 72 hours before. If the district can, it also posts it on its website. Source: Public notice of meetings (Public Officers Law §104).
Minutes (the written record of what was voted on) must be available within two weeks of the meeting. Source: Minutes (Public Officers Law §106).
The board may go into a private "executive session" only for certain reasons set in the law (for example, some personnel or legal matters). Votes on spending are made in public.
You may record a meeting if your device does not disturb the meeting (see the Committee on Open Government FAQ). Source: Open Meetings Law FAQ (NYS Committee on Open Government).

2. How to read an agenda

Find the agenda on the district website (for Deer Park: the Agenda and Minutes page). It is usually a PDF posted before the meeting.
Look at the order of business: call to order, approval of minutes, presentations, new business, schedules (staff and other lists), discussion and approval, public comment, then adjourn.
"Presentations" are where staff explain programs, such as curriculum, test results or a Portrait of a Graduate plan. These are the best parts to learn from.
Items under "approval" are what the board will vote on. Search the PDF (Ctrl+F) for words like "curriculum", "textbook", "course", "trip" or your school's name.
Afterward, read the minutes to see how each member voted.

3. How curriculum is adopted

In a New York union free school district, the board has the power to set the course of study and to choose the textbooks used in its schools. Source: Board powers: course of study and textbooks (Education Law §1709).
Teachers and administrators build or pick the curriculum to match the New York State Learning Standards, then it comes to the board.
Watch the agenda for presentations and approval items about new courses, programs or textbooks. That is your moment to learn and to comment.
Good questions to ask: Which NYS standards does it meet? How will families see it? How will every student reach the goal?

4. How to speak in public comment

The Open Meetings Law does not require boards to let the public speak, but most do. When they do, they should use fair rules that treat everyone the same. Source: Open Meetings Law FAQ (NYS Committee on Open Government).
Each district sets its own rules in its board policy. In Deer Park, the agenda calls it "Public Be Heard" and you sign the sign-in book at the Board table before the meeting starts.

Read the agenda first, so you know what is being voted on.
Arrive early and sign in.
Say your name and that you live in or work for the district (if the rules ask).
Speak about one topic. Keep it short: what you saw, why it matters, what you ask for.
Be kind and calm. Do not name students or share private information.
Bring a written copy to hand to the district clerk, and follow up by email.

5. The budget vote

In most New York school districts the annual meeting, board election and budget vote are on the third Tuesday of May. Source: Annual meeting and budget vote on the third Tuesday of May (Education Law §2002).
Deer Park's 2027 vote is Tuesday, May 18, 2027, at the DPHS Gym, 7 AM to 9 PM (district calendar).
Before the vote: budget workshops (Deer Park lists March 10 and March 23, 2027), the board adopts a proposed budget, then a budget hearing in May. Each one is a chance to ask questions.

Sources

Checked Nov 7, 2026.