OMA Advisory Opinion (#OOG-2024-0012) – Smothers Elementary School LSAT

On October 8, 2025, Director Allen issued an Advisory Opinion #OOG-2024-0012, in response to a complaint which alleged that Smothers Elementary School Local School Advisory Team (“Smothers LSAT”) nominated a chairperson to Smothers LSAT “outside of a regular LSAT meeting” and cancelled one of its publicly noticed meetings without notice to the public of the cancellation.

Director Allen found that the Smothers LSAT’s alleged nomination or selection of a chairperson on a disputed date does not violate the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”) because the alleged nomination or selection process does not raise facts or circumstances covered in the OMA. The Advisory Opinion explains that the unique situation of Smothers’ LSAT being reduced to one or two members is one that warrants further examination, but insufficient and conflicting information prevents such within the context of the OMA. The Director found that the meeting notice issue falls within the OMA, but the evidence was inconclusive on which to decide whether Smothers LSAT violated the OMA by not providing notice to the public of the cancellation of one of its meetings. Notwithstanding the LSAT reduced membership and the insufficiency of information, OOG advises that LSATs must provide notice of meetings in accordance with the OMA. The LSAT must create a record, as best as possible, of the selection of members, create a process in such a situation, and make it available to the public.

The Director found that based on the Office of Open Government’s own investigation, Smothers Elementary School Local School Advisory Team has violated the Open Meetings Act, by not doing the following: publishing meeting minutes or (information on access to) record of meetings for the year 2024, as required by D.C. Official Code § 2–578(b); publishing a schedule of its meetings for school year 2024 to 2025; and providing meeting notices for school year 2024 to 2025, in accordance with D.C. Official Code § 2–576(1).

Director Allen has determined that based on Smothers Elementary School Local School Advisory Team's violation of the OMA Notice of meetings and Open meetings requirements, Smothers LSAT must take OMA training within sixty (60) days of receipt of the Advisory Opinion to avoid further corrective action.