Kent board receives refresher on Open Public Meetings and Public Records duties

Curtis Leonard, the meeting's OPMA/PRA presenter, told the Kent School District board that a gathering does not have to be called a "meeting" to fall under the Open Public Meetings Act. "It doesn't have to be called a meeting to be considered a meeting," Leonard said, explaining that a retreat, a work session or a series of smaller one-on-one contacts that result in collective action can all qualify.

Why this matters: Leonard said the definition is broad and includes deliberations, consideration of staff reports and even receiving public testimony. "Action is more than just a resolution," he said. "Receiving public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, or final actions. All of those are actually considered action." The guidance included an explanation of serial-meeting risks: separate conversations, emails…