school boards Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

23 Jul, 2025

What it takes to win an open meetings lawsuit in Tennessee — a look at the Memphis superintendent case
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What it takes to win an open meetings lawsuit in Tennessee — a look at the Memphis superintendent case

Open Meetings, open meetings lawsuits, school boards

What it takes to win an open meetings lawsuit in Tennessee — a look at the Memphis superintendent case

By Deborah Fisher|2025-07-23T14:02:34-05:00July 23, 2025|Categories: Open Meetings, open meetings lawsuits, school boards|Tags: Johnston v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville, Marie Feagins, Shelby County School Board|0 Comments

The Court of Appeals has ruled that discussions by members of governing bodies in private can violate the open meetings law, but someone bringing an open meetings lawsuit must present enough evidence to show that the members meeting privately were deliberating, engaging in substantive discussion about their positions or attempting to develop a consensus. Whether fired superintendent Marie Feagins can do that in her case against the Memphis-Shelby County School Board is up to a judge. But the public also has a role in deciding what kind of transparency they want from their local school board.

21 Apr, 2025

‘Advisory board’ that would oversee Memphis school board would be exempt from Open Meetings Act
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‘Advisory board’ that would oversee Memphis school board would be exempt from Open Meetings Act

Legislature, Open Meetings, school boards

‘Advisory board’ that would oversee Memphis school board would be exempt from Open Meetings Act

By Deborah Fisher|2025-04-21T14:33:37-05:00April 21, 2025|Categories: Legislature, Open Meetings, school boards|Tags: Rep. Mark White, Sen. Brent Taylor, Shelby County School Board|0 Comments

A Senate bill up for a vote today that creates a board of managers to oversee the Memphis Shelby County School District would allow the new board to operate secretly. The bill specifically states the the new board of managers would be exempt from the Open Meetings Act and could hold meetings closed to the public. The board would have significant powers, including recommending elected school board members for removal. The House version also creates a new board, which slightly different powers, but in this bill, the new board would be subject to the Open Meetings law.

2 May, 2024

Carter County school board leaves off its agenda its vote to close elementary school
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Carter County school board leaves off its agenda its vote to close elementary school

adequate public notice, school boards

Carter County school board leaves off its agenda its vote to close elementary school

By Deborah Fisher|2024-05-02T15:02:05-05:00May 2, 2024|Categories: adequate public notice, school boards|Tags: adequate notice, agendas, Carter County, special called meeting|0 Comments

The Carter County School Board voted 6-1 to close an elementary school in a special called meeting on April 25, but didn't let the public know in advance in its meeting notice. This likely violates the law's requirements for public notice for special called meetings, which requires a governing body to reasonably describe the purpose of the meeting and the action to be taken. The school board's notice had only one action item: to adopt the next year's budget.

23 Jun, 2022

Non-disparagement clause violates free-speech rights of Nashville school board members, court says
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Non-disparagement clause violates free-speech rights of Nashville school board members, court says

First Amendment, school boards

Non-disparagement clause violates free-speech rights of Nashville school board members, court says

By Deborah Fisher|2022-06-23T10:38:18-05:00June 23, 2022|Categories: First Amendment, school boards|Tags: Amy Frogge, censorship, Daniel Horwitz, First Amendment, Fran Bush, free speech, Jill Speering, Metro Nashville school board, school boards, Shawn Joseph|0 Comments

A school board's agreement to not say anything disparaging about a director of schools it fired violates the First Amendment free speech rights of school board members, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled in a case upholding a lower court's decision.

26 Jul, 2015

Williamson County commissioners hold private meetings to interview school board replacement

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:49:58-05:00July 26, 2015|Categories: Open Meetings, school boards|Tags: Franklin Home Page, Gregg Lawrence, Johnston v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville, Kathy Danner, Knoxville News Sentinel v. Knox County Commission, private meetings, Robert Cook, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, The Tennessean, Williamson County, Williamson County Commission Commission, Williamson County School Board|1 Comment

Two Williamson County commissioners are holding private meetings with candidates to decide who should fill an open position on the Williamson County School Board, but the county commission attorney says their meetings do not violate the Open Meetings Act, according to two stories by media outlets. The Tennessean: Williamson Schools candidate raises transparency concerns Franklin Home Page: Opinions vary on transparency of school board candidate vetting Williamson County Commissioner Kathy Danner Williamson County Commissioner Gregg Lawrence The two commissioners, Kathy Danner and Gregg Lawrence, are responsible for jointly deciding who should fill the remainder of the term of a board member who is leaving. The practice in the past has [...]