Fairfax County School Board governance committee votes to enter closed meeting on public contracts

On June 16, 2025, the governance committee of the Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously to enter a closed meeting to discuss the award of public contracts and to consult with legal counsel on contract matters, citing Code of Virginia §2.2-3711(A)(29), (7) and (8).

The committee began its session with the motion text read aloud by a meeting facilitator: "The governance committee of the school board will now make a motion to go into closed meeting on 06/16/2025 to discuss the award of public contracts where discussion in an open session would adversely affect bargaining position or negotiating strategy pursuant to section 2.2 dash 3711 a 29 and consult with legal counsel regarding matters, requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel pursuant to section 2.23711 a 7 and a 8 of the code of Virginia specifically contract matters." Dr. Anderson moved the motion and Sima Dixick seconded it. After the call for the vote the facilitator said, "All in favor? We are unanimous and now enclosed." The committee then recessed into closed session.

The motion invoked statutory exemptions that allow closed sessions when public discussion would harm negotiating positions and when consultation with legal counsel is needed. The transcript contains no recorded public discussion or vote on any specific contract award; the only recorded actions were the motion, the second and the unanimous vote to convene the closed meeting. No additional public outcomes or next steps concerning contract awards were specified in the recorded portion of the meeting.

Under the Code of Virginia, such closed sessions are permitted for certain contract-negotiation and attorney-client matters; the committee did not record any public action on the underlying contract matters during the open portion of the meeting. Any formal decisions about contract awards that may result from the closed session would need to be recorded in public minutes or returned to open session for formal action if required by law or the board’s rules.