Hazel Park board votes to enter closed session to review Allen Law Group report after debate over Open Meetings Act

The Hazel Park School District of the City of board voted to recess into a closed session to receive and discuss a report from the Allen Law Group, after a lengthy discussion about whether the report constituted a legal opinion protected by attorney‑client privilege and whether the meeting complied with the Open Meetings Act.

Board President Pam called the special meeting to order and members approved the agenda. The board then moved to a motion to recess into closed session “under section 8(1)(h) to consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute — attorney‑client privilege.” The motion was made by Heidi and seconded by Monica.

The motion generated extended discussion. Several board members raised concerns that the Allen Law Group had been retained as independent investigators and were not the district’s attorneys, and questioned whether reviewing the firm’s findings in closed session…