FOI violated by PW Board for failure to notify public

Members of the Palestine-Wheatley School Board met Thursday evening without properly notifying the media. Because of the violation, the board will have to hold that meeting again.

The board’s meetings are supposed to be held on the second Monday of each month, which is posted on the district’s website.

On Monday, the Times-Herald contacted the district to see if there would be a board meeting that night and a short time later received notice of a meeting set for 7 p.m., along with an agenda, which was reported in Monday’s newspaper.

However, about 4 p.m., Monday the newspaper was notified that the meeting was cancelled due to the lack of a quorum.

On Tuesday, the district sent two faxes regarding the meeting. One noted the meeting would be held on Thursday, Aug. 18, which was reported in Tuesday’s newspaper. The other fax sent by the district showed the meeting would be held on Thursday, August, with no date.

Last night, the Times-Herald learned the board held its meeting that evening.

According to PW Superintendent Jon Estes, during that meeting, board members voted to approve bonuses for employees, hired additional workers and approved a retention and recruitment plan.

John Tull, a member of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Task Force and a partner with the Quattlebaum, Grooms and Tull Law Firm, said this morning, “If they passed anything, they will need to hold another meeting to vote in public. The law requires the public be given proper notices. Any action they took is arguably voidable.”

The district does not publish each particular month’s meeting on its website. The website only shows that board meetings are to be held at 7 p.m., on the second Monday of each month. The district also did not post the meeting on its Facebook page.

Estes said today that he would contact board members to let them know the meeting will have to be held again to vote in public on the matters on which they took action.

The Times-Herald today also requested a copy of the recording from Thursday’s meeting, but was told that would not be available before Monday.

Katie West • Times-Herald The Junior Auxiliary of St. Francis County GEMS prepare items to sell Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Forrest City Farmers Market. The group is looking for new members to mentor. From left, Charlie Jo Edgin supervises JASFC GEMS chairs Jamie Harris and Katie Edgin as they make lemonade and other goodies for the market.