Not much response from the Chair of the Bluewater District School Board over an OPP investigation into alleged misuse of closed-door meetings.
Kimberley resident Peter Ferguson has asked the OPP to see if the board is meeting behind closed doors for reasons other than those in the Education Act.
Board Chair Jennifer Yenssen says she found out about the investigation through media reports and has not been contacted regarding the issue.
She says careful minutes are always kept of in camera sessions.
Yenssen says they can go back and check the minutes and see the sessions were held for the right reasons, which are personnel matters, land transactions, legal issues, and employee negotiations.
She says they only hold a closed session if absolutely necessary, adding one was not held when the board met on November 17th because there was no reason to.
Yenssen says advisor Geoff Williams’ recent report on improving board transparency had a recommendation that the board only discuss appropriate items in closed session.
She adds Williams was not implying there is a problem with closed meetings in Bluewater, but was suggesting how to avoid them.