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Virginia Beach School Board authorizes counsel to settle federal case after closed session
Summary
The Virginia Beach School Board met in a closed session May 13 and voted to authorize its legal counsel to participate in settlement negotiations and to settle the matter in GM and others v. Virginia Beach School Board, case 2-24-CV-00059 EWH. The board also certified compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
The Virginia Beach School Board voted May 13 to authorize its legal counsel to participate in settlement negotiations and to settle the matter in GM and others v. Virginia Beach School Board (2-24-CV-00059 EWH) following a closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
The board convened the administrative informal and workshop meeting at 4:01 p.m. and recessed into a closed session under the cited exceptions in the Code of Virginia to discuss personnel matters, litigation strategy and legal advice. After returning to open session, the board certified that the closed meeting complied with state law and then voted on the settlement authorization.
Vice Chair Weems read a motion to recess into closed session citing Code of Virginia exemptions for personnel and legal consultations. After the closed session, the board voted to certify that “only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed.” The certification motion was moved by Allen and seconded by Cummings.
Dr. Green moved to authorize the school board’s legal counsel to participate in settlement negotiations and to settle the matters discussed in the case identified as GM and others v. Virginia Beach School Board, case number 2-24-CV-00059 EWH. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cummings and passed by a recorded vote of 10 ayes and 1 abstention.
The closed-session topics listed in the motion read into the record included: a settlement offer and trial preparation for a pending federal case; status of personnel investigations by the Department of Internal Audit; appointment of citizen members to school board advisory committees effective July 1, 2025; and consultation with legal counsel regarding probable and pending litigation matters.
Board Chair Kathleen Brown said the board would follow the process required by state law in certifying closed-session compliance. The board’s formal votes on certification and on the settlement authorization were recorded by the clerk, who announced the 10–1 tallies.
No further details about the settlement terms or the pending litigation were discussed in open session.
