Williston Basin School District No. 7 board moves into executive session to discuss negotiating strategy

The Williston Basin School District No. 7 School Board voted to enter an executive session at 5:00 p.m. to discuss negotiating strategy, citing North Dakota Century Code Section 44-04-19.1.

Board members moved to close the meeting after the presiding officer said the discussion "must be discussed in the executive session" under state law because holding it in public could have an adverse fiscal effect on the district’s bargaining position. The motion was seconded by board member Jones and passed on a roll-call vote.

Board member Jones, board member Barsch, board member Wheeler, board member Swint, board member Walstad and board member Wenner voted in favor; the motion passed unanimously. The board announced the executive session would be recorded and reminded members to limit their discussion to the announced topic. Members of the public in the room were asked to leave, and the board said the public live stream would be shut off and would not resume during the executive session.

Board staff noted that any collective decision, commitment or other final action by the governing board must occur after the board reconvenes in open session; the board said a final action may be taken in executive session only if specifically authorized by law.

The board then moved into the closed session. No formal policy decisions or bargaining agreements were recorded in the open portion of the meeting.