Community member brought action against school committee pursuant to the Open Meetings Act (OMA), seeking declaration that any actions taken by equity and anti-racist advisory board without an open public meeting were null and void.
Parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The Superior Court entered summary judgment for school committee. Community member appealed.
The Supreme Court held that equity and anti-racist advisory board was not a “public body” subject to the OMA.
Equity and anti-racist advisory board was not a “public body” subject to open meetings requirement of the Open Meetings Act (OMA); board was sporadic, ad hoc group of volunteers created by school committee for purpose of discussing personal experiences and concerns about inequity in school district and making suggestions about how to create a more inclusive school community, and upon receipt of board’s suggestions, a policy sub-committee would deliberate and advise school committee on what, if any, changes might be implemented, board’s policy proposals were submitted to policy sub-committee, which had discretion to accept board’s suggestions, in whole or in part, and then forward board’s suggestions to school committee, which, like policy sub-committee, was a public body and held open meetings.