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Board clarifies disruption procedures and moves into closed session under Virginia code for personnel and student matters
Summary
At the May 1 work session the Roanoke County School Board reviewed procedures for handling meeting disruptions — including when to call a recess and leave the room — then voted to convene a closed session citing Code of Virginia §2.2-3711 exemptions for personnel, scholastic records and legal consultation.
The Roanoke County School Board reviewed its procedures for handling meeting disruptions and then convened a closed session on May 1 invoking exemptions in the Code of Virginia.
The chair reviewed when a recess should be called, saying the decision is made when “there's a number of audience members that are yelling, and it prevents the business of the meeting to continue.” The chair said prior incidents led the board to consult law enforcement and to use a recess-and-exit procedure "to allow for de escalation, and to restore order to the room so that the meeting can continue." The chair added that the live feed cannot be discontinued until the chair calls a recess because "the meeting isn't in recess until that time."
Board members thanked the chair for his leadership in managing the prior disruption and described the situation as "gut wrenching," while noting the need to prioritize public safety and law enforcement guidance during a disturbance.
Following that discussion, Mister Greenway moved that the board convene in closed session “to discuss ongoing personnel matters under investigation, pursuant to the personnel exemption at 2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia and to discuss the investigation of a student matter pursuant to the scholastic record exemption at 2.2-3711(A)(2) of the Code of Virginia, and for consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members pertaining to actual or probable litigation and consultation with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice ... pursuant to 2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia.” A second was made and the roll call produced affirmative responses from members present.
The motion cited the statutory exemptions by section number; the board then left the public session to convene the closed session. No further public details of the personnel or student matters were discussed while in open session.
