The Clinton City Board of Education met behind closed doors for well over four hours Tuesday, apparently discussing a personnel issue that they could not divulge.
The special called meeting was announced last Friday, noting that it would be a closed session. Little else was detailed in the email notifying the newspaper of the board’s intention to meet.
Sampson Middle School principal Shirley Williams and her attorney attended the meeting which was held on the College Street School campus and went behind closed doors with the board. Neither offered comment on what the meeting was about.
Sampson Middle School band teacher Vevlyn Lowe was also present, joining the meeting for just a few minutes.
According to an email from the school system, the meeting was held “for the purpose of reviewing personnel matters and consultation with counsel in closed session, possible personnel action in open session, and such other matters as may properly come before the Board.”
However, during a break, Raleigh lawyer Rod Malone, representing the Board of Education in this specific personnel matter, said that a decision made by the board would not be shared during open session, referencing a “quirk” in the N.C. Open Meetings Law that allows such action out of the public’s earshot.
Because the meeting was called for personnel reasons, no one would comment.
Lauren Williams can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 117 or via email at lwilliams@civitasmedia.com.
As I understand the law, until the board votes on the matter in an open session, it is illegal to implement whatever decision they made!
I think that you, "The Sampson Independent", should get your own or your press association's lawyer to verify this so-called "quirk in the N.C. Open Meetings Law." I'm convinced that the lawyer who offered you that excuse is merely deflecting legitimate news reporting of a newsworthy event. And because he's a lawyer and you're not, you let him and the Clinton City School Board get away with it. What does "The Sampson Independent's" lawyer say about this illegal stonewalling?!!!
Is "The Sampson Independent" going to take legal action?!!!
Editor's note: We have contacted the NC Press Association attorneys and we are currently waiting on an answer. Like you, I believe it is a violation of the Open Meetings Law!