School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Bylaw 1-36

SCHOOL BOARD BYLAWS

Open Meetings and Closed Meetings

A. Open Meetings

Meetings of the School Board of the City of Virginia Beach shall be open to the public except those meetings when the School Board adjourns to a closed meeting by a majority vote of the Board. Such meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the legal references to this bylaw.

B. Closed Meetings

1. Authority/Attendees

The Code of Virginia permits closed meetings in order to discuss specific topics in private. Closed meetings must be convened by polled vote of the majority of the members in attendance in public session. No action may be taken in closed meetings. In open session immediately following any closed meetings, the Board members must certify by a polled vote that no matter was discussed in closed meetings that was not encompassed in the topics authorized in the motion to convene in closed meeting.

Closed meetings are attended by Board members. The School Board may invite persons to attend closed meetings to provide necessary information.

2. Minutes

The School Board clerk shall attend closed meetings (unless expressly excused) for the purpose of taking brief minutes. These minutes which shall be part of the Board's official minutes shall include:

a. Date, time and place of meeting;

b. Record of all persons in attendance;

c. Motion for Closed Meetings;

d. Certification of Closed Meetings

e. Any action taken;

Closed meetings shall not be tape recorded with the exception of student discipline hearings which may be recorded by the Board.

Editor's Note
The Board has agreed in the Superintendent's contract of employment dated June 6, 2000 that he will be included in all Board meetings involving the operation of the School Division.
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act is located in Appendix D of these Bylaws.
For requirements regarding meetings of board committees see Bylaw 1-28.

Legal Reference:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Code of Va., §2.2-3700, et. seq.

Adopted by School Board: July 21, 1992
Amended by School Board: September 5, 1995
Amended by School Board: August 17, 1999
Amended by School Board: February 20, 2001
Amended by School Board: May 14, 2002