School Board Meeting
Improperly Warned
By Chris Costanzo

The Herald has learned that the Bethel School Board held a special meeting last week to discuss far-ranging issues relating to the Bethel school district's educational policy, but did not properly warn the meeting.

Unlike regular meetings, whose schedule and locality are known beforehand, special meetings are not previously scheduled. For that reason, state law holds that they must be publicly announced at least 24 hours ahead of time by notifying the media that serves the area, and by posting in three places in the municipality.

The Herald was not given the required notice of last week's meeting.

According to School Board Chair David Allen, an announcement of the special meeting was posted in the town clerk's office. However, according to Secretary of State Deborah Markowich, that does not meet the legal criteria for publicizing a special meeting, which specifically requires notification of the news organization. that normally attends such meetings.

Thus, the special meeting was held in contravention of Vermont's public meeting law, in a manner that clearly made media coverage or public attendance unlikely.

In a telephone conversation this week, Markowitz confirmed that there is a requirement to inform that the media of any special meeting of a public body such as a school board.

She noted that "we have a problem" if an improperly-warned special meeting is held, even if the board intends to announce the results at a subsequent regular meeting.

Allen told The Herald that last week's special school board meeting was held during the day and lasted several hours. He characterized it as a "brainstorming session" in which the board made no rulings or decisions, nor took any action on any issues.

Allen said that among topics discussed were academics, arts, sports, community relations, physical facilities, and ancillary services.

He said that he recognizes now that the warning was not done according to legal requirements, but he added, "It is unfortunate that a technicality would overshadow what was a very productive meeting that set the school board's agenda for the coming year, in which public participation will be expected and encouraged."

The Herald has heard that school board members freely expressed their opinions during last week's meeting, and that there was some divergence among them. We are, however, unable to report these opinions directly, since The Herald, like most of the public was unaware that the meeting was taking place.