Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has executed a settlement with the Central Plains 112 Board of Education to resolve a violation of the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

In November, the board self-reported to the attorney general’s office that it had violated KOMA by improperly discussing matters in executive session that should have been discussed in open session.

Upon investigation, the attorney general’s office determined that the board violated KOMA on two occasions by improperly recessing into executive session to discuss matters unrelated to the justification cited in the board’s motion to enter executive session. The board’s motions to recess into executive session also failed to include the place where the open meeting would resume.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the board signed a consent order admitting that it violated KOMA. Board members have agreed to obtain training and provide written confirmation that each member has obtained the required training, conduct a prompt review of any existing board policy or draft and adopt a policy that addresses board responsibilities and executive sessions and provide written confirmation of doing so, and not engage in any future violations of KOMA.

A copy of the consent order, which was signed in early December by the attorney general, is available at http://ag.ks.gov/open-govt/enforcementactions.