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SIU Board approves remote participation request; moves to close meeting for executive session
Summary
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted to allow a trustee to participate remotely and voted to close the public meeting to discuss probable or imminent litigation and personnel matters, citing the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees approved a motion to allow a trustee to participate in the meeting remotely and later moved to close the public meeting for executive session to discuss pending or probable litigation and personnel matters.
"Pursuant to the board's bylaws, Trustee Salter notified the board's secretary that she is unable to attend the meeting today in person due to family matters. She is permitted to participate by video or audio conference if members physically present vote to allow her to do so," the board chair said when introducing the item. Trustee Simmons moved to allow the remote participation and Trustee Tedrick seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote.
Later in the session the chair moved to close the meeting to the public "for the purpose of considering pending probable or imminent court proceedings against and on behalf of the board, appointment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees and review of executive session minutes." The motion cited the Illinois Open Meetings Act; a board member seconded the motion and the secretary was asked to call the roll. The provided transcript ends as the roll call is being conducted; a formal recorded vote on that motion is not included in the provided record.
The initial remote participation motion was handled by voice vote; trustees indicated "aye" and the chair stated "Motion passes." The executive‑session motion referenced statutory allowances under the Illinois Open Meetings Act but the transcript does not contain a completed roll call or recorded outcome for that motion.
The board also noted that a public question-and-comment period was available for up to 15 minutes with a three-minute limit per speaker; the secretary reported there were no speakers for this meeting.
Items discussed under the executive-session motion (litigation or personnel matters) were not detailed in the public transcript.
