Prince George's County Board of Education closes May 1 virtual meeting to review appeals

The Prince George's County Board of Education voted to close its May 1, 2025 virtual special meeting so members could review board appeals and hear oral arguments, the board recorded.

A staff member opened the session by saying, “The purpose of this meeting is to review board appeals and oral arguments.” The meeting was then closed under cited legal provisions, and the roll call vote was recorded as six affirmative votes.

The closure was announced under “general provisions. Article section 3-305 b, citations 1, 2, 7, 8, and 12,” a statement attributed on the record to Chairman Jonathan Briggs. The board also read its rules for Internet meetings, identified as Board rules of procedure, section 4, which instruct members to keep video on, mute microphones until recognized, raise the hand icon to be recognized, and limit comments to two speaking turns of two minutes each.

During the roll call, members recorded as voting aye included Miss Busaschrother; Jonathan Briggs; Mrs. Brown; Joyce McCance; Dr. Moss; and Miss Walker. The clerk reported the tally as six affirmative votes, and the motion to close the meeting was adopted. Board staff then asked members to exit the open meeting and enter the special closed-session link; attendees were warned they would be placed in a waiting room and admitted by staff.

The public record for the session lists the reason for closure as review of appeals and discussion of matters that could disclose the identities of employees or involve pending or anticipated litigation — topics the board said could lead to financial loss, reputational harm, or other legal consequences if discussed in public. No formal substantive actions on appeals or outcomes of oral arguments were disclosed in the open record prior to the closure.

The board proceeded to the closed session immediately after the vote.