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Committee responds to open-meeting complaint; agrees to training and to amend minutes where practicable
Summary
A private requester filed a complaint with the Massachusetts attorney general after the school committee provided declassified executive-session minutes; the committee approved amended minutes for Aug. 18, 2025 and agreed members will attend AG open-meeting-law training.
The West Bridgewater School Committee addressed an open-meeting complaint on May 4 after a private requester asked for minutes covering 2023 to the present and later filed a claim with the Massachusetts attorney general alleging executive-session minutes lacked sufficient detail.
The committee approved and declassified amended minutes from the Aug. 18, 2025 executive session and the chair said those will be forwarded to the requester. The chair explained that many of the minutes in question were prepared by clerks no longer serving on the committee and that only the August 18 set could be meaningfully expanded at this time.
The complainant escalated the request to the AG's office, which assigned an attorney to review the matter. The requester also asked the committee to take an open-meeting-law webinar; the committee agreed members would register for available AG trainings in May and June and provide proof of attendance where possible.
Committee leaders described the exercise as a learning opportunity and said they were working with district counsel to improve minute-taking and compliance going forward. The AG review timeline was unknown; committee members cautioned it may take time because the complainant has filed many similar requests across jurisdictions.
