Board amends agenda, holds two closed sessions under Open Meetings Act

The Lockport School District 91 Board of Education amended its Oct. 14 agenda to add a closed session before action items and entered two closed sessions during the meeting under the personnel exception of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Board President Laura Garrett moved to amend the agenda to include a closed session before action items; the motion, seconded by Vice President Oxley-Turner, passed by roll call with all members voting in favor. The board recessed and entered the first closed session at 8:35 p.m. and reconvened the public meeting at 9:15 p.m. A second closed session began at 9:28 p.m. and the board reconvened and adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

The board cited the statutory authority printed on the agenda when entering closed session: "The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District... 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)." The transcript records members briefly leaving and entering during the closed session period — Pinn stepped out at 8:45 p.m. and returned at 9:03 p.m.; a parent identified as Morales entered at 9:08 p.m. and left at 9:14 p.m.

Under state law, the board may discuss personnel matters in closed session when the statutory conditions are met; the transcript does not record details of the personnel discussions or any personnel decisions taken in closed session. The board returned to open session to complete action items, including votes on donations, technology disposal, a personnel report and an insurance memorandum of understanding.