schools

Lawsuits Among School Trustees Q: I cover the School District, which has just been sued by one of its trustees on allegations of civil rights violations and harassment. The board of trustees held a closed session on the litigation on Tuesday night and I received an anonymous tip that this trustees was asked to leave the closed session so that the other trustees could discuss strategy to defend the district against this lawsuit. He refused

Spanish Translator at School Board Meetings Q: At a recent school board meeting attended by 600 community members and staff, the district attempted to deny translation of the meeting.  80% of the audience was Spanish speaking.  Is the district required to provide a translator if needed? A: With respect to the meetings of local government bodies such as school boards, the public’s right to attend, receive notice of, and otherwise access those meetings is governed

Q: This question relates to the Brown Act, which, pursuant to an Attorney General Opinion, applies to community college student governments. Recently, the student designated to post the notice of our student senate (our legislative body) meeting failed, because of illness, to post it by 3 p.m. Sunday for a meeting the following Wednesday at 3 p.m., though all members and advisors received e-mail copies on time. The agenda was late-posted by 9 a.m. on

Meeting in closed session to select a candidate Q: I have what is probable a simple question for you. I am wondering if a student governing body at a college can meet in close session to discuss possibly endorsing a candidate for the board of trustees in an upcoming election? Would this violate the Brown Act? A: Assuming that the student governing body of the college to which you are referring is subject to the

Barred from entering public school board meeting Q: The husband of a local school board member physically prevented a group of teachers from entering a public school board meeting, held at the school district office. One lawyer we checked with said it wasn’t a violation of California’s open meetings law, because the husband wasn’t a school official or board member. We’re trying to find out what, if any, law he violated. A: The short answer