From Deseret News archives:
State to scrutinize closed school talks
In September the Jordan school board entered into an open discussion about whether it should fund school resource officers at a higher cost.
Members debated whether it was prudent to spend $1.5 million over four years for resource officers or look at other alternatives like hiring private security.
But then in October and November the board continued the discussion in closed meetings.
Jordan officials said that since they were discussing security issues, the closed discussion was legitimate under the law's security personnel exception. That provision says boards can discuss issues "regarding the deployment of security personnel, devices and systems" in a closed session.
But media attorney Jeff Hunt said that exception comes into play when boards don't want to disclose security plans because the disclosure will compromise school security.
"This was not that type of discussion," he said. "It was about budgeting matters and matters of school policy the kind of policy that should be discussed in open meetings."
Paul Murphy, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, said they are currently looking into the issue.
"We like to see them get involved in enforcing (open meetings law) in both educating school districts about responsibilities to comply and taking action in instances where there is going to be a violation," Hunt said.
Last year the Office of the Legislative Auditor General conducted a study that found a number of local school boards are inappropriately closing meetings closing them often and, at times, not complying with the intent of the open meetings act.
"Remarkably, what should have been a wake-up call to school boards has been blithely, and at times brazenly, ignored," Hunt said. "School boards across the state continue to conduct the public's business behind closed doors in violation of the law. ... We haven't seen any improvements in open meetings practices."
A group of Bountiful parents sued Davis District earlier this month for closing meetings of the Boundary Advisory Committee, a group that was charged in creating a proposal for new high school boundaries.
That suit resulted in a temporary restraining order against any further discussion, decisions or research from the committee, and a hearing is set for next month to determine further action.
The Utah Open Meetings Act allows public bodies to close meetings for only a few reasons, including discussing the character, competence or health of an individual; and strategy sessions on collective bargaining, lawsuits and property sales, leases or exchanges.
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com
Comments
- Oil falls below $79 7:53 a.m.
- Stocks open lower 7:53 a.m.
- Iranian Consulate fatally shot 7:49 a.m.
- AP poll: Family dinner survives 7:47 a.m.
- Palestinian election may be called off 7:45 a.m.
- Balloon boy parents to plead guilty 7:44 a.m.
- Intel to pay AMD $1.25B settlement 7:42 a.m.
- Jobless claims fall to 502K 7:40 a.m.
- Obama to want revised war options 7:39 a.m.
- Will state consider gay rights law? 7:11 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Crash kills Utah County man
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Will state consider gay rights law?
- Long days for BYU interns
- House passes health care bill
288 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
250 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
96
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
Thank you.
if you love football and don't know how to do anything else then you can be...
another disappearing act,fire sloan,trade williams,love korver
Jazz playing tonight? Wonder whats on Lifetime?
Nothing new there. BYU starts the BCS talk in April, only to give it up...
I am a Utah fan and am so disappointed by the silly and often stupid posts by...
No matter what you call it "National Healthcare", "Socialized Medicine",...
The most accurate statement and most dire warning in this story "Especially...
What have you done to our beloved Utah Jazz?
Don't blame the teachers and administrators who figured out how to advantage...


You can be the first to comment on this story.