Middletown Board of Education Cancels Planned Closed-Door ‘Retreat’

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MIDDLETOWN — The Board of Education walked back a decision to hold a behind-closed-doors retreat on Saturday that would have violated state freedom of information laws.

According to the posted agenda, the board planned to discuss five items in an executive session, or behind closed doors. These items included a discussion of the responsibilities of the school board, an overview of the Strategic Operation plan, board goals, the school website, and a discussion of a committee on personnel. 

That plan came under fire from one local resident, in a widely distributed letter, who pointed out that such a meeting would violate the law.

Tom Hennick, the Public Information Officer at the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, said that only one of those items on the agenda would qualify under the law as a discussion that could be held in private: the personnel committee. 

“There’s five specific reasons for an executive session, and four of those reasons don’t even come close in my mind,” said Hennick. “I think they’ve got a problem when it comes to compliance.”  

Mid-morning on Friday, the Board of Education canceled the retreat. 


Emilia Otte

Emilia Otte covers health and education for the Connecticut Examiner. In 2022 Otte was awarded "Rookie of the Year," by the New England Newspaper & Press Association.

e.otte@ctexaminer.com