The Arizona Attorney General has concluded that the Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board violated the state's open meeting law on three occasions last year, but found the violations were not intentional.

In a letter dated Thursday, June 25, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Munns outlined the seven allegations and three violations to the law, which is intended to maximize public access to the governmental process.

In addition, the letter delineated a resolution process for the board to follow. The letter was addressed to attorney C. Benson Hufford, who is representing the board.

“The ‘so-called’ violations are not serious,” Hufford said. “It’s a slap on the wrist.”

The letter was in public circulation Saturday, June 27, before board members were provided a copy on June 29.

The Arizona Attorney General has concluded that the Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board violated the state’s open meeting law on three occasions.

At one meeting, the board violated executive session “by discussing personnel matters and the merits of the administrative reorganization” of West Sedona School.

Another meeting agenda listed a number of items for discussion and action under the Personnel topic without listing names of personnel, as prescribed by state law.

At a third meeting, the board went into executive session, but didn’t state the grounds for that executive session.

The Attorney General found no violations among the remaining four allegations.

To remedy the violations, Attorney General has ordered:

• The board must review the substance of the complaints with its lawyer in a public meeting.
• Each board member and staff must participate in a public training session about open meetings law.

To read the full story, see the Wednesday, July 1, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.