State Charter School Chairman: 'Mistakes were made'

SBOE PRESS RELEASE: PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION ACCEPTS AG RECOMMENDATIONS

The Idaho Public Charter School Commission (PCSC) today voted unanimously to accept responsibility and adopt recommendations made by the Office the of Attorney General (OAG) to remedy violations of Idaho’s Open Meeting Law that occurred during a PCSC executive session meeting held last April.

The OAG conducted an investigation as a result of complaints received after a PCSC executive session meeting was inadvertently recorded and mistakenly released in response to a public record request. 

The OAG recommended the PCSC acknowledge publicly that the executive session violated the law and to schedule and undergo OAG administered training on the Open Meeting Law in public.  That training occurred after the vote and lasted nearly two hours.

The PCSC also heard public testimony from nearly 20 charter school board members, administrators, parents, students and lobbyists.  About two-thirds were critical, many saying the Commission’s executive session discussions damaged trust that will be difficult to repair.

“This whole matter has been very difficult for everyone involved,” stated PCSC Chairman Alan Reed.  “As I said last week, mistakes were made and I hope this special meeting, the training and the opportunity folks had to speak their mind will help us all move forward to support and do what is best for our students and our charter schools.”