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Norfolk school board certifies executive session and approves personnel report amid complaint about short notice
Summary
The School Board of the City of Norfolk voted to certify an executive session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and approved a personnel report after a brief discussion in which a member said they received notice less than 24 hours before the meeting.
The School Board of the City of Norfolk certified an executive (closed) session and then voted to approve a personnel report during its meeting. Board members approved a resolution certifying that the closed meeting complied with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and Code of Virginia §2.2-3712, then amended the agenda to add a personnel-docket vote and approved that personnel report.
The certification resolution — read to the board during the meeting — stated that, to the board's knowledge, only matters lawfully exempted from open-meeting requirements under Virginia law were discussed during the executive meeting. The board then moved to amend the agenda to add a vote on the personnel docket and approved that amendment by roll call.
After the agenda was amended, Dr. Martin moved to approve the personnel report and Miss Thomas seconded the motion. A board member asked whether the personnel report was available for members to see before the vote; the board attorney responded, "Well, you won't see the items on the personnel report are not publicly shared," explaining that the items are part of executive-session board documents. The motion to approve the personnel report passed on a roll-call vote.
One board member said they supported the personnel report but opposed the change in notification practice, adding that they had received the materials "less than 24 hours before we met today." That same member voted aye on the personnel report. The board chair declared the motion passed and then adjourned the meeting.
The actions taken included: (1) a certification that the executive session complied with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and Code of Virginia §2.2-3712; (2) an amendment of the agenda to add a personnel-docket vote; and (3) approval of the personnel report. The meeting record shows no public disclosure of the personnel items discussed, consistent with the board's statement that those items remain part of executive session documents.
