May 9, 2012

To The Mountain Enterprise:

This is to follow up on your email [and hand-delivered letter] dated February 6, 2012 in which you alleged that the El Tejon Unified School District Board of Trustees violated the Brown Act by agendizing for closed session discussion an item relating to "Discussion of Certificated Services Being Reduced or Eliminated" at its February 1, 2012 meeting.

As I explained to you, the posting of this item as a closed session matter was an oversight on the part of [ETUSD] staff which was not the result of any board direction or intent to violate the Brown Act.

Upon learning of the error, the Board of Trustees took prompt action to cure and correct any Brown Act violation by placing the matter on the agenda again for open sessiondiscussion only, at a subsequent meeting held on February 8, 2012. At this meeting, after allowing for public comment, the board again discussed this matter before taking action to approve a resolution eliminating certain certificated services. No comments were received from members of the public on this item. A copy of the February 8 agenda is attached.

The board acknowledges the February 1 closed session posting was in error. Rest assured any future discussions relating to reduction in certificated services will be discussed in open session only, as required by the Brown Act. Staff will review information from our legal counsel concerning Brown Act closed session authorizations to ensure we are aware of the latest information in that regard.

The board takes its open government responsibilities seriously and regrets this oversight. We appreciate you bringing it to our attention.

Katherine A. Kleier
District Superintendent

This is part of the May 18, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.