The Vandalia School Board and Vandalia Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Garrison expected to conduct a hearing via Zoom video conference on Tuesday with the Illinois State Board of Education concerning an appeal by the district over ISBE recognition status. However, the hearing was not held after a disagreement concerning whether the hearing should be an open, public hearing. After a brief introduction of ISBE personnel on hand for the hearing and the Vandalia School Board members, Vandalia administration and staff on hand as well as Cromwell Media – Vandalia being present for the hearing, legal counsel for ISBE objected to media being present for the hearing as well as the district live streaming the hearing via YouTube for viewing. Jerry Stocks, legal counsel for the school district addressed the ISBE representatives and counsel stating that the hearing should be a public hearing as the Vandalia School Board had a quorum present and they did not want to violate the Open Meetings Act and also felt that the community had a right to have access to the hearing. With disagreeing views between the two parties, the hearing officer called for the hearing to be put in recess for the legal counsel to try and come to an agreement before proceeding. Following the short recess, both parties returned to the Zoom conference with ISBE legal counsel and the hearing officer relaying that they were ready to proceed with the hearing, but not in a public manner. Vandalia’s legal counsel, Mr. Stocks, again stated that it was his and the Vandalia School District’s view that there was nothing in the emergency rules that stipulate the hearing having to be conducted in a closed manner. Stocks again reiterated that his client would not violate the Open Meeting rules with the hearing officer responding that it was the Vandalia School Board’s choice to have all board members present to make it an official meeting situation. Following the conference being closed with no official hearing being held, Vandalia School Board President Joe Lawson expressed that the school district would continue to hold the position that this process should be open to the public.
And Lawson says he and the board feel that they are continuing on the right path for what they believe is right for the Vandalia School District.
With the differing ideas of how to proceed, Vandalia will await word on the next steps to be taken by the Illinois State Board of Education.
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