tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24141781.post3694512817215903588..comments2023-10-30T07:25:41.149-05:00Comments on The Real School Police: All of Indy School District Involed in Cover Up?Roxy the school police watch doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10665002851169935353noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24141781.post-3644865312059291782007-03-08T12:39:00.000-05:002007-03-08T12:39:00.000-05:00Back in October there was a woman at the board mee...Back in October there was a woman at the board meeting who wanted to comment on a teacher. She stood up at the podium and started to speak, when she mentioned a teacher’s name Mr. Coffel got up out of his seat walked over to the podium and covered the mic. She was told she would have to finish that in executive session. I stood up and told Mr. Coffel that he was in violation of the law. I told him he is violating parents’ right to free speech. After talking to the woman that night I heard her side. I waited for the teacher’s side to come out. Mr. Coffel did not. <BR/><BR/>Why is this a violation? <BR/>Well because the courts have said so.<BR/>Please read.<BR/>In Fayette County, Georgia, The Citizen newspaper says Georgia's "Sunshine Laws" are in practice "more like suggestions."2 In December 1997, the Fayette County School Board allegedly violated the Open Meeting Law for the third time in one year by meeting in the home of the Board President without public notice.3 In Georgia, advance public notice of a meeting is required, but an agenda is not required until afterward.<BR/>Tyrone parent Joy Belyeu and other members of two concerned parents groups have recently clashed with the Fayette Board. After criticizing the Superintendent, Belyeu was required to finish her remarks in a closed session.<BR/>Georgia Press Association attorney Jim Ellington says it is a violation of Georgia's Open Meeting Act to silence a statement made in a public hearing, then separate the complaining party in a closed session.4<BR/>Schools attorney Sarah Murphy disagrees: "Board deliberations about disciplinary actions or employee evaluations should be considered in private to protect the rights of the employee."5 But does criticism by a member of the public constitute "board deliberation?"<BR/>Murphy says most school attorneys disagree with a July 1995 unofficial opinion from Georgia's Attorney General. That ruling stated, "A school board may not close to the public any meeting devoted to the airing of grievances about school personnel by interested members of the public." The ruling went on to say "evidence or argument presented to the board must be held in an open meeting," while "deliberation or discussion by the board" may be in closed session.6<BR/><BR/><BR/>I will post the whole article later.Roxy the school police watch doghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10665002851169935353noreply@blogger.com