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mahatmakanejeeves

(62,861 posts)
3. Spotsylvania School Board's firing of superintendent raises questions
Wed Jan 12, 2022, 03:27 PM
Jan 2022
Spotsylvania School Board's firing of superintendent raises questions

Adele Uphaus 6 hrs ago



Spotsylvania Superintendent Scott Baker, who was set to leave the system in June, was fired Monday.

FILE / PETER CIHELKA / THE FREE LANCE–STAR

Adele Uphaus

The Spotsylvania County School Board voted to fire Superintendent Scott Baker without cause during a contentious meeting Monday, leaving some on the board and in the crowd with unanswered questions.

The board voted to approve Baker’s termination without cause after coming out of a closed session that may have violated Virginia’s open meeting requirements. Virginia Code states that no closed meeting shall be held unless the public body first approves a motion that states the subject matter and purpose of the meeting, as well as the applicable exemption from open meeting requirements. ... “A general reference to the provisions of this chapter, the authorized exemptions from open meeting requirements, or the subject matter of the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for holding a closed meeting,” Virginia Code states.

The closed session, during which Baker’s position was discussed, was the second closed session of the meeting and was not on the approved agenda. Board members did not vote on a motion to enter the second closed session, as is required by Virginia Code. ... Salem District School Board representative Lorita Daniels asked for a legal opinion on whether the second closed session would violate the Freedom of Information Act, but School Board Chairman Kurt Twigg did not respond to her request.

Baker was escorted from the building before the board returned from the second closed session.

{snip}

Adele Uphaus–Conner: 540/735-1973
auphaus@freelancestar.com
@flsadele

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