It appears that the Richmond County Board of Education has quietly adopted a new policy, one that does not hold up to legal scrutiny.
The Georgia open meetings law requires that a government body announce its intention to meet with a quorum ahead of time, including the date, time and location of the meeting.
Recently, the school board added a caveat to its meeting schedule, stating that board meetings will begin at 6 p.m. or “after committee meetings conclude.”
This past week, the committee meeting ended at approximately 5 p.m. and rather than wait until the appointed time, the school board gavelled the regular meeting into session at approximately 5:18 p.m. according to the online recording. That meant the meeting was nearly over when parents and the media showed up at 6 p.m., with the school board members entering executive session at approximately 6:18 p.m., according to the online recording.
Perhaps the board is tired of seeing its members get into heated arguments and walking out of meetings and all of that being captured on camera, or perhaps the board members simply want to get the business over with so they can go home early.
Whatever the motivation, it is unlawful for any government board or commission to hold a meeting with a quorum at any time other than what is advertised ahead of time.
The Richmond County School System has long held the reputation of being one of the least transparent public institutions in our area. Some recent hires in the public information office have shown more of a willingness to cooperate and release information, but that does not erase the decades of stonewalling.
We demand that the Richmond County Board of Education follow the law and hold its meetings open to the public at the stated times of which they are supposed to occur.
