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Committee backs bylaw change to allow closed Deaf and Blind committee meetings
Summary
The Utah State Board of Education’s Deaf and Blind Standing Committee voted unanimously to recommend amending board bylaws to allow the committee to hold entire meetings or portions of meetings in closed session with prior notice, adding a reference to Utah’s Open and Public Meetings Act.
Leanne Wood, chair of the Utah State Board of Education Deaf and Blind Standing Committee, said the committee was considering a proposed amendment to Article 8 of the board bylaws that would permit the committee, with prior notice, to close a meeting or part of a meeting to discuss sensitive student issues.
The proposed language was introduced by Ben Rasmussen, director of law and professional practices, who told members, “Staff received a request, to draft an amendment to article 8, of the board bylaws.” Rasmussen explained the change would make committee procedures consistent with existing bylaws and allow closed sessions "to talk about student issues that would be sensitive."
The discussion among members focused on whether the amendment should explicitly say a whole meeting or part of a meeting could be closed and whether to reference state law. Board member Jenny Earl proposed adding a clause to include “any other purpose allowed by section 52 4 2 0 5,” a reference to the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. Members debated the value of broad versus specific language, noting the committee might sometimes want a short closed portion rather than an entire meeting.
Earl moved that the committee recommend the board approve the amendments to the bylaws (draft 1) on second and final reading. After discussion, members voted. The motion passed unanimously; the committee will forward the recommendation to the full board in May.
Why it matters: the change would let this committee lawfully close meetings or parts of meetings when discussing sensitive student matters, subject to public-notice requirements and the limits of state law, and will be considered by the full State Board of Education.
The committee indicated the draft will be refined before full-board consideration and that staff will add the statutory reference to section 52-4-205 of the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act.
The committee did not adopt final bylaws language at this meeting; it forwarded the recommendation to the full board.
