PUBLIC MEETINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION

1. Public Meetings

A. All meetings of the Board of Education for the official transaction of business shall be open to the public except that the Board may, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting, meet in executive session for the purposes specified in Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-225.

B. As defined by statute, the term "meeting" shall not include: any meeting of a personnel search committee for executive level employment candidates; any chance meeting, or a social meeting neither planned nor intended for the purpose of discussing matters relating to official business; strategy or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining; a caucus of members of a single political party notwithstanding that such members also constitute a quorum of a public agency; an administrative or staff meeting of a single-member public agency; and communication limited to notice of meetings of any public agency or the agendas thereof. The term "caucus" means a convening or assembly of the enrolled members of a single political party who are members of a public agency within the state or a political subdivision.

2. Executive Sessions

A. The public may be excluded from meetings of the Board of Education which are declared to be executive sessions.

B. Executive sessions may be held on a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting taken at a public meeting stating the reasons for such executive session.

C. Board members and other persons attending executive sessions shall not disclose the topic of details of the discussion.

D. Executive sessions may be held for any reasons permissible under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, as it may be amended from time to time, including one or more of the following purposes:

(1) Discussion concerning the appointment, employment, performance, evaluation, health or dismissal of a public officer or employee, provided that such individual may require that discussion be held at an open (public) meeting.

(2) Strategy and negotiations with respect to pending claims and litigation to which the Board or a member of the Board, because of his or her conduct as a member of the Board, is a party until such claims or litigation have been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled.

(3) Matters concerning security strategy or the deployment of security personnel, or devices affecting public security.

(4) Discussion of the selection of a site or the lease, sale or purchase of real estate when publicity regarding such site, lease, sale, purchase or construction would cause a likelihood of increased price until such time as all of the property has been acquired or all proceedings or transactions concerning same have been terminated or abandoned.

(5) Discussion of any matter which would result in the disclosure of public records or the information contained therein described in Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-210(b).

Legal References:

Connecticut General Statutes
     1-200 Definitions (Public Agency; Meetings; Person;
               Public Record; Executive Session)
     1-210 Access to public record. Exempt records.
     1-225 Meetings of government agencies to be public.
              Recording of votes. Schedule and agenda of meetings to be filed. Notice of special meetings.
              Executive sessions.
     1-231 Executive sessions.