Foxborough School Committee Attends Open Meeting Law Training

The Foxborough School Committee underwent training Monday in the State's Open Meeting Law under a directive from Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office. The training, originally scheduled for Aug. 29, was postponed due to Tropical Storm Irene.

The Attorney General Martha Coakley's office ruled in late July that the Foxborough School Committee violated the Open Meeting Law by failing to follow proper procedure in entering executive session at its June 21, 2010 meeting.

The actions in which the committee included agreeing to a "contract addendum during the executive session, failing to subsequently ratify that agreement in open session, and failing to release the contract addendum to the public." 

The committee was put on notice by the AG's office and ordered to attend training on the Open Meeting Laws.

All five school committee members and Superintendent, Debra Spinelli, attended the training presented by Glenn Koocher of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC). According to the MASC website, the MASC is a "member-driven association whose mission is to support Massachusetts school leaders in their increasingly complex governance role." The MASC uses an array of "programs and services including training workshops, policy development and administrator search services, legal and advocacy support." 

Koocher began the 50 minute powerpoint training presentation with a touch of "ice breaker" humor.

"[Still getting use to the new open meeting law] – there is a support group for that called everybody," he said. "A lot of districts are still getting use to the new law."

The Open Meeting Laws, relative to local, county, regional and state public bodies underwent changes on July 1, 2010, aimed at improving transparency and access to government.

Koocher's presentation covered what the law requires for state and municipal boards and how to properly conduct business in public with certain exemptions.

Specific areas that were discussed included open government and advisory commissions, remote participation, public participation, executive sessions, minutes, records, investigations, hearings and advisory opinions.

Koocher noted that the key in complying with the law is "full disclosure at the meeting and that the public body acted in good faith compliance."

School committee members asked a few questions, including gaining future clarity from the AG's office on contracts and in particular, member Kate Kominsky who questioned the notification date and specifics of the changed laws. Foxborough was cited for violations in a June meeting and the effective date of Open Meeting Law changes was July 1.

"When did the AG's deliberation and definition on what they intended with the Open Meeting Laws, when was that information released?" questioned Kominsky.  "You would not have know unless someone filed a compliant in terms of minutes and specifies. We knew the law changed but we dd not know the AG's interpretation changed."

Kominsky went onto note, "The AG never gave us a sheet. Little unclear. We knew the law was changing, we thought we were in compliance, come to find out we may or may not be based on their interpretation."

Board Chairman, Bruce Gardner, summed up the training by saying, "I think we have learned some things through this process and we have questions that might help other districts. One thing I have never questioned is this committees intent."