What is the Denver Public Schools board is trying to desperately to hide in the five-hour recording of their illegal meeting conducted on the heels of the East High School shooting in March?
A Denver judge last week ordered the tape be released to the public, confirming the board had broken Colorado’s Open Meetings Law by keeping the meeting secret from the public.
But instead of complying, the school board appealed the decision on Monday whining that the judge failed to address who would have to pay for attorney fees and court costs.
The board also accused Denver District Court Judge Andrew J. Luxen of revealing details about the meeting, which (checks notes) just confirms the Judge’s ruling that the board was wrong to lock the public out of the meeting.
From the Denver Post:
After reviewing the recording himself, Luxen on Friday issued an order finding that school board members discussed topics behind closed doors that are not permitted by state law, adopted a policy or took formal action. He also found that the board did not properly notice the executive session.
And what did the judge reveal to the public that got the board all upset?
From the Denver Gazette, one of several news outlets pursuing the release of the secret tapes:
“The Denver School Board did not discuss these issues in executive session, specifically any issues involving specialized details of security arrangements or investigations, including defenses against domestic and foreign terrorism or matters which if made public might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing, or avoiding prosecution for, a violation of the law,” Luxen wrote.
“There was lengthy discussion of general security arrangements, however, including the return of school resource officers to Denver public schools,” the judge added.
But we knew that already, because Auon’tai “Tay” Anderson blabbed about it to the media.
Anderson led the effort to kick school resource officers off campus and didn’t want them back in schools protecting kids against crazed shooters or dangerous students. Although, when the plan came up for a vote, Anderson did not oppose it.
To no one’s surprise, Anderson seems to be the only board member cheering the release of the tapes, which would reveal the decision-making of everyone involved and the illegal crafting of a new policy, behind closed doors.
The judge’s ruling was on point, and we expect the school board’s appeals to keep their actions private will ultimately fail.
The question is, will the public get the full picture before two board members are up for reelection in November?