As The Valley Reporter goes to press on Wednesday, September 27, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) Board is expected to be discussing a letter from board vice chair Gabe Gilman.
The letter will be posted on The Valley Reporter’s website.
On May 24, the HUUSD Board held a nearly two-hour-long executive session. The reason given for the closed-door meeting was to discuss a matter of personnel. Prior to the board’s next meeting, on June 14, Fayston board representatives Heidi Spear and Jill Ellis sent a five-page memorandum that accused the board of violating the open meeting law. They claimed that personnel contracts were not the primary reason for the session and that during the meeting the Fayston representation and public were criticized for their actions during the 2016 budgeting season.
The Valley Reporter has questioned the legality of that session and has been told repeatedly that the session was lawful. Gilman’s letter goes to great length to explain why that is not the case.
Importantly, he details how the board can defend itself from letting the same mistake plague them again. Please take the suggestions and move on.
Every member of the HUUSD Board has the right intentions at heart and as of the last retreat, members seem to be on the same page and ready to move forward.
All we ask is that you follow the rules, especially the rules about open meeting and transparency. It is a sacred trust we have with elected officials and one we trust you to uphold.
— CLK
