Bd. of Education of Springfield School District No. 186 v. The Attorney General of Illinois

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly found that plaintiff-school board violated terms of Open Meetings Act when it terminated its superintendent during closed Bd. session. While Attorney General issued two binding opinions indicating that Bd. improperly took final action during closed Bd. session by signing separation agreement and failed to adequately inform public at subsequent public session about superintendent’s proposed termination prior to voting to approve agreement, Appellate Ct. found that mere signing of separation agreement during closed session did not violate Act because said action did not constitute final action on said agreement, which did not occur until Bd. voted to approve agreement during subsequent public session. Ct. further found that Bd.’s agenda for subsequent public session, which stated: “Approval of a Resolution regarding the…agreement…between…[Superintendent] and Bd.” provided public with sufficient notice of agreement under section 2(c) of Open Meetings Act.