tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3776078766066637969..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: September 1 Board meetingMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42336875492501417292010-08-29T02:07:01.506-07:002010-08-29T02:07:01.506-07:00I had believed that the Open Meetings Act required...I had believed that the Open Meetings Act required the Board to post an agenda 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Upon reading <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=42.30" rel="nofollow">the law</a>, however, I don't see anything about that at all. My belief was wrong.<br /><br />Nevermind.<br /><br />The community engagement that could be expected around the payment of a judgement would be at the "inform" level. The District would describe what steps they are taking to avoid such errors in future. While we can reckon that they have expressed their contrition to Ms Williams in almost a million ways, some expression of contrition to the taxpayers who pick up the tab or the students and families who could have benefited from having a $1 million more to spend in classrooms would not be out of place.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37938533498429503212010-08-28T12:14:35.144-07:002010-08-28T12:14:35.144-07:00@Charlie - "Then comes the staff updates. No ...@Charlie - "Then comes the staff updates. No word yet on what they will be about. Does this comply with the Open Meetings Act? Can they just say "Chief Academic Officer's Update" without referencing a topic..."<br /><br />Yes. There is no requirement in the Open Public Meetings Act that requires them to provide a detailed agenda (and not requirement, in fact, that they provide any agenda) or allow public testimony. Allowing public testimony is good for showing an attempt at community engagement.<br /><br />"“Then comes the authorization to pay $1 million as a judgement against the District for retaliation against an employee who made allegations of sexual harassment. Let's be very clear - the award is not for the harassment, but for the retaliation. Again, no community engagement was done.”<br /><br />I'm at a loss as to what type of community engagement you would expect to see regarding the payment of a legal judgment against the district.(??) Honest question - not an attack. they have to vote in public on authorizing the payment, but can discuss it in private in an executive session (legal matters).<br /><br />Source and basis for my comments: RCW 42.30 at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=42.30Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14341427446081103440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58351278764719821622010-08-28T11:48:07.164-07:002010-08-28T11:48:07.164-07:00Yes, executive sessions are closed meetings for th...Yes, executive sessions are closed meetings for that purpose, as allowed by the Open Public Meetings Act.Artnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85195818470683112332010-08-28T11:12:10.160-07:002010-08-28T11:12:10.160-07:00There is also an executive session on Sept 8 regar...There is also an executive session on Sept 8 regarding the Sup's evaluation. I would love to be a fly on the wall with that one. It is a closed meeting right?another momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12303476240929715442noreply@blogger.com