Weston School Committee Orients New Members on Open Meeting Law and Governance

WESTON — May 25, 2022 — Weston School Committee held a new member orientation covering open meeting law, public records, and governance structure before voting 4-0 to enter executive session on collective bargaining strategy. Chair Daina Selvig led the session, joined by Superintendent Dr. Mitch Connolly, warning members that the attorney general defines deliberation broadly enough to include liking a social media post on a matter within the committee's jurisdiction. The committee disclosed that its Community Parent Advisory Council is not currently operating in conformance with recently updated policies BDE and BDF, and Selvig acknowledged a recent attorney general advisory opinion — which she said she had initially misread — holds that CPAC is not subject to open meeting law because its membership is not fixed. Members were told that constituent concerns must be directed to the lowest-level appropriate staff member and that accompanying a parent to a meeting with school staff would constitute an abuse of position. A fuller two-day governance retreat with the committee's attorney is planned for August.