AG: Woodford school board violated Open Meetings law while discussing controversial project

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s office said Monday the Woodford schools board violated the state Open Meetings Act during a closed meeting in April 2019 when it discussed a committee appointment about the design of a controversial new high school.

The ruling was released Monday following a complaint filed by Woodford school board member Sherri Springate in March of this year.

Springate alleged in her complaint that during an open meeting on April 22, 2019, the school board named members to a steering committee for the design of a new high school, including the superintendent. Following the open session, the Board entered a closed session to discuss the superintendent’s performance evaluation. Springate alleged that during the closed session, “several board members expressed their displeasure with the Superintendent being named to the steering committee.”

The Attorney General’s ruling said the discussion about the Superintendent being named to the steering committee violated the Open Meetings Act because the stated purpose of the closed session was only to discuss the superintendent’s performance evaluation.

State law prohibits discussion of any matter other than the matters publicly announced prior to entering closed session. Determining whether to place the Superintendent on a steering committee to build a high school was not connected to his employment evaluation, the ruling said.

“In the presence of a quorum, a member of the Board discussed public business that did not relate to the purpose provided for excluding the public. As such, the Board violated the (Open Meetings) Act,” the ruling said.

The building of a new Woodford County High school has been controversial. While moving ahead on building a new high school on 61 acres that the district bought years ago adjacent to the Woodford County Middle School in Versailles, board members have been at odds over how to pay for a new high school, how much to spend on it and how best to give the community a voice in the plans.

In response to the Attorney General’s ruling, Springate said Monday that “board members have two very important duties: the education of our children and the financial stewardship of the community’s tax dollars. “

“The allegations I submitted to the Attorney General strike at the heart of both of these important responsibilities. I am saddened things has to get to this point. What I want more than anything is for the Board to get back to good and ethical governance focused on students and their learning, “she said.

The school board in December approved a plan for a $50 million new high school, after approving a smaller $36.2 million project in June 2019, said Springate.

This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 4:07 PM.