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Parents and an employee say March 9 meeting was called early, raising procedural questions
Summary
Two community members told the Eufaula Public Schools board they were preparing to speak at public comment on March 9, 2026, but missed the opportunity because they said the board called that meeting to order a few minutes before 6:00 p.m.; board members debated but did not act to change the March 9 minutes.
Two community members told the Eufaula Public Schools Board of Education on April 13 that they believe the board’s March 9 meeting was called to order before the official 6:00 p.m. start time, denying them the chance to speak during public comment.
Ricky Fleming, identified in the record as an EPS employee and community member, and Trey Downum, identified as a parent of EPS students, said they were entering the March 9 meeting at 6:00 p.m. expecting to speak during public comment but found the meeting already in session. Both raised the issue during the public‑comment portion of the April 13 meeting.
Board member Martha Asher moved to table the consent‑agenda item that included the March 9 minutes so the board could address the timing concern. The motion to table failed on a 3–2 vote (Asher and Alfonzo Chiles III voted to table; Braddock Dobbs, Michael Morton and Jeff Pippenger voted no). The consent agenda otherwise carried.
The board did not record further procedural changes or a vote to reopen or amend the March 9 minutes at the April 13 meeting. The matter remained a point of concern raised during public comment but without a formal remedy recorded in the minutes.
