Legal counsel reviews ethics, open‑meeting and public‑records obligations for new school committee members

Attorney Melissa Murray, representing the school committee, delivered the meeting's informational item summarizing legal requirements for elected members. She told the committee that conflict-of-interest training is required when a member first takes office and every two years thereafter, and that members must sign and return acknowledgment forms confirming they reviewed the materials. Murray pointed committee members to online resources and the packet in their folders for detailed instructions.

On the Open Meeting Law, Murray emphasized that a quorum must be present for deliberations and that communications that amount to a deliberation can, in some circumstances, violate the law (for example, serial emails among a quorum). "You're not allowed to share your opinion on some matter that's going to come before this body, without a quorum present," she said. She urged members to consult the packet and staff if they have questions about what counts as deliberation.

Murray also reviewed public records rules and the practical consequence that many records are subject to disclosure: "As public officials, the materials you create are public records. That includes your emails... we encourage everyone to use their Springfield schools email address." She recommended completing required online training because it preserves certification records and urged returning members to check the two‑year training timeline.

The materials and acknowledgment forms are to be returned to Clerk Trini; attorneys Murray and Keefe (as named in materials) offered to be available for follow-up questions. The review was framed as an overview, with fuller guidance available in the packet and online.