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Milwaukee Board moves into closed session and unanimously approves Motley Rice retainer
Summary
At a special virtual meeting, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted 6-0 to retire to closed session under Wisconsin statute 19.85(1)(g) to discuss pending or probable litigation and later approved a retainer agreement with law firm Motley Rice.
The Milwaukee Board of School Directors met virtually and voted 6-0 to retire to closed session to consult with legal counsel about pending or probable litigation, then returned to open session and approved a retainer agreement with law firm Motley Rice.
Chair Missy Zomber called the special meeting to order and the secretary read the call of the meeting, saying the item of business was "action on a request to retire to closed session to confer with legal counsel with respect to pending or probable litigation matters" under Wisconsin statute 19.85(1)(g). The secretary also said the board would not accept public comments at the special meeting.
Director Ferguson moved to retire to closed session under the cited statute; Director Reza seconded. The secretary called the roll and recorded six "aye" votes. "That's 6 ayes," the secretary announced, and the board left open session to consider the litigation matters in closed session.
After the closed session, the board returned to open session. Director O'Halloran moved "that the board approve the retainer agreement with Motley Rice as presented." Director Reza seconded that motion. The secretary again conducted a roll-call vote; all listed members voted "aye" and the motion passed by a 6-0 tally.
The meeting record shows the board took two formal actions: (1) a motion and unanimous vote to retire to closed session under Wisconsin statute 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel about litigation, and (2) a motion and unanimous vote to approve a retainer agreement with Motley Rice. The board's secretary stated there were no other items before the board and the meeting was adjourned.
The meeting was conducted virtually and streamed via the Milwaukee Public Schools YouTube channel, and the secretary noted that no public comments would be accepted at this special meeting.
Next steps, including any filings, litigation strategy, or contract details for the retainer agreement, were not discussed on the public record at this meeting and were not specified in the transcript.
