The Times-News: On Friday, the Burlington Times-News filed a public records lawsuit against Alamance-Burlington School System over minutes from closed meetings that led to the resignation of Superintendent Lillie Cox. The newspaper requested the meeting minutes in early October. The school system claims they are confidential. Closed session minutes become public once their release would not frustrate the purpose of the closed session.
The Alamance-Burlington Board of Education held a series of closed sessions early this year related to the employment of Superintendent Lillie Cox. Cox resigned in May and part of her separation agreement included $200,000 in severance pay. At the time, the school board cited the N.C. Open Meetings Law‘s exemption to discuss personnel matters.
In October the Times-News requested the minutes of those meetings under the N.C. Public Records Law. Closed session minutes are public records, although boards are allowed to withhold them as long as disclosure would “frustrate the purpose” of the closed session. The Alamance-Burlington School System responded to the newspaper’s request by heavily redacting the minutes.
On Friday, the newspaper filed a lawsuit alleging that the heavily redacted minutes do not comply with the public records law.
Read the Times-News coverage here.