Mooresville, Indiana — In a significant move toward greater transparency, a local school board has agreed to implement reforms following a lawsuit initiated by a weekly newspaper. The action stems from allegations that the board conducted official business in secrecy when appointing a new member.
The settlement finalized last month, involves the Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation Board of Education, just outside Indianapolis. The board has committed to revising two key policies to adhere to Indiana’s Open Door Law, which ensures public access to government meetings.
The legal challenge was brought forth by the Morgan County Correspondent, supported by Kris Cundiff, an attorney from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. The lawsuit contended that during a private meeting, school officials unlawfully discussed and narrowed down candidates for a board vacancy.
Under the agreement reached, the board will modify its procedures for filling vacancies on the board. This includes conducting interviews for finalists in sessions open to the public. The agreement mandates that the board discuss the candidates’ qualifications transparently and invite public commentary prior to making any final decisions on board appointments.
Additionally, the board adjusted its policy on public participation, introducing formal channels for community members to offer comments just before the board acts on any public business, enhancing accountability.
“This outcome marks a crucial victory for transparency and community engagement,” Cundiff stated. “It guarantees that school board activities will be conducted openly, allowing for community input.”
The lawsuit was prompted by an executive session held in November, where board members deliberated on potential appointees and ultimately singled out one candidate, Deon Brimmage. After this closed meeting, the board reconvened publicly to vote on Brimmage’s appointment, without soliciting any comments from the public or addressing other candidates.
Following this incident, Cundiff lodged a formal complaint with Indiana’s Office of the Public Access Counselor, asserting that the board’s actions transgressed the Open Door Law. While awaiting a response from the office, which ultimately supported the newspaper, the Correspondent took legal action in Morgan County Superior Court. The case argued that the board had circumvented public input and acted behind closed doors.
As part of the settlement, the Morgan County Correspondent has agreed to withdraw the lawsuit, while the school board will compensate the Reporters Committee over $6,000 in legal fees.
In a recent opinion piece, Correspondent Editor Stephen Crane emphasized that the lawsuit was a matter of procedure rather than personal grievance, noting the importance of abiding by the laws that govern public entities.
The Correspondent invites readers to find further details and coverage of this settlement in the upcoming June 5 edition of the publication.
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