District 186 is preparing to hold a meeting in violation of the Open Meetings Act.
Under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, “meeting” means any gathering of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business. In the case of the District 186 school board, a meeting would be a gathering of three of the seven members. And in Thursday’s event, the district business would be groundbreaking of the Lanphier High School construction project.
The groundbreaking ceremony was planned in advance. At first, the district told reporters not to tell the public about it beforehand, saying the event is not open to the public. After WTAX News informed board members and the board’s attorney this violates the Open Meetings Act, the district then said the board would not meet and that the event – taxpayer-funded construction of a school building on district-owned land – is not district business.
WTAX News has advised the board the only ways they can comply with the Open Meetings Act would be to cancel the event or keep most of the board away from it.
“Meeting” means any gathering of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business
5 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 120/1.02