Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Meetings Training topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board workshop reviews Wisconsin open meetings law in training session
Summary
The Raymond #14 School District board held an open-meetings training video and discussion Monday evening after a settlement required the district to provide training; board members reviewed notice rules, walking-quorum risks, and closed-session procedures.
The Raymond #14 School District Board of Education held a workshop and training on the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law on Dec. 2, using an online video from the UW–Madison local government center and discussing how the law affects notice, agenda specificity, and closed-session procedures.
The staff member who introduced the session said the training was part of “a recent settlement that we reached, a lawsuit that was filed,” and framed the video as a refresher for board members and staff. The video, used as the main instructional material, outlined who the law covers, the purpose of public notice, the penalties for violations, and the legal tests that can convert informal contacts into prohibited meetings.
Board members focused on three practical areas: providing sufficiently specific notice so the public can understand agenda items, avoiding electronic or serial conversations that could create a walking quorum, and the limited statutory reasons for holding a closed session. The training emphasized that a closed session requires the presiding officer to announce the topic and statutory basis, a recorded vote to close, and that only essential staff remain while others leave.
The board discussed onboarding and ongoing training needs after the video. One member recommended making the resources available to new trustees as part of orientation. The session ended with the Chair and staff agreeing the material was a useful refresher and that additional training opportunities would be scheduled as needed.
The workshop portion was informational. The board then moved into a special meeting to conduct district business.
