OMA Advisory Opinion (#OOG-2025-0002) - Board of Trustees for Mary McLeod Bethune PCS

On June 27, 2025, Director Allen issued an Advisory Opinion #OOG-2025-0002, in response to a complaint which alleged that Mary McLeod Bethune Public Charter School Board (“MMB PCSB,” “PSCB” or “Board”) posted one meeting minutes since February 2024 and has not posted schedules for meetings since the SY23-24 schedule was published on the Public Charter School’s website. The complainant expressed concern about the absence of links to access the PCSB’s meetings.

The Director found that MMB PCSB is in violation of the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”). The violations are as follows: (1) failure to post draft and final meeting minutes for specific Board’s meetings on its website and/or Central Meeting Calendar (“CMC”); and (2) failure to provide complete meeting notices for specific meetings - the location (valid dial in number and access code or valid weblink and login information). Further, Director Allen determined from the Office of Open Government’s (“OOG”) investigation that certain dates on the schedules do not accord with the dates of the meetings on the agendas.

Concerning the meeting schedule, the Director found by virtue of OOG’s investigation that MMB PCSB’s SY 2024-2025 meeting schedule is posted on the Public Charter School’s website. However, Director Allen has determined that based on MMB PCSB’s Open Meetings, Notice of Meetings, and Recording violations, the Board must take OMA training within sixty (60) days of receipt of the Advisory Opinion.