Prince George's County Board of Education closes meeting to review board appeals
Summary
The Prince George's County Board of Education voted to close a virtual special meeting May 15 to hear board appeals and oral arguments, citing personnel and legal privacy concerns under Maryland law.
The Prince George's County Board of Education voted May 15 to close a virtual special meeting so members could review board appeals and hear oral arguments.
Vice Chairman Jonathan Briggs said the board was invoking Maryland General Provisions Article §3-305(b) to justify the closure, noting that “discussions about employees' identities and ongoing or anticipated legal disputes in a public setting could result in financial losses, damage to reputation, or legal consequences.”
The vote to close the meeting was taken by roll call and passed with six affirmative votes. The board instructed members to exit the public meeting and rejoin a special closed-session link on their calendars; staff placed members in a waiting room and admitted them to the closed session.
The closure was described on the record as necessary to discuss appeals and oral arguments involving employees and matters that the board said could raise legal exposure if discussed in public. The board cited General Provisions Article, §3-305(b), listing citations 1, 2, 7, 8 and 12 as the legal basis for the closed session.
The meeting opened at about 5:32 p.m. and the clerk conducted a roll call before the vote. The board did not record a mover or seconder for the motion on the public transcript excerpt; the roll call names and affirmative votes are recorded in the public portion of the meeting.
