Visitor, attorney debate public access to budget backup; board attorney says agenda notice satisfied legal requirement
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Summary
A visitor told the board the budget packet was not posted before the meeting; the board’s attorney said state law requires posting the agenda 24 hours ahead but does not mandate posting backup materials that early.
John Glover, a resident of Shreveport, told the Caddo Parish School Board on May 27 that the budget document for the meeting had not been uploaded and that the omission made it "very disheartening" for members of the public who wanted to review the packet in advance.
"It is very disheartening to have to stand here before you all and give a comment to a document that has not yet been made available to the public," Glover said, asking how members of the public would obtain a copy.
Board attorney Abrams responded that state law requires the agenda be posted at least 24 hours before a meeting but does not require that supporting backup materials be posted that far in advance. "As far as the policy is concerned, as long as the item is on the agenda, there's no requirement that you have to have backup on the agenda until the meeting that you actually have," Abrams told the board. He noted the board’s policy includes guidance about providing materials to media and the public and recommended that staff nevertheless try to make backup available within 24 hours when practicable.
President Green told the board the packet had been posted that morning and staff confirmed online access during the meeting.
No policy change was made at the session; the discussion ended with staff and the attorney describing the district’s practice and policy language and with a board request for staff to circulate materials as possible ahead of subsequent sessions.
