Closed meetings never in public interest

By Staff
November 23, 2003
The public's business should always be conducted in the spotlight of public scrutiny. Any and all allegations should be disclosed, discussed and dealt with in public, not in secret.
Mississippi law allows public bodies to scamper behind closed doors to discuss, among other things, personnel matters. It's an overly broad exemption in the state's open meetings law that does a disservice to the public interest.
A case in point is the Lauderdale County School Board, which went into private session last week to talk about allegations raised by Superintendent David Little against Southeast Elementary Principal Joey Knight and Denise Knight, the county school district's coordinator of federal programs. Reportedly, an audit will help determine whether any laws were broken in the handling of certain Barksdale Reading Institute funds and federal Title I money. Through their attorney, the Knights have denied any wrongdoing.
While we will continue to cover the story because it is newsworthy, the community at large should reserve judgment as to the appropriateness of Little's and the Knights' actions until all information is compiled and made public.
We will say this, however: The public's business should always be conducted in the spotlight of public scrutiny. Any and all allegations should be disclosed, discussed and dealt with in public, not in secret.
That is the best way to ensure that all pertinent facts are brought forward and to protect the interests of the parties involved and the public's interest.