Delaware Justice Department officials say the state Board of Education violated open meetings laws when it didn’t provide enough space during a contentious meeting this past winter.
State Rep. Kim Williams (D-Newport) filed the complaint when the board considered a controversial Wilmington school redistricting plan in its normal meeting room.
An opinion from the attorney general found there were about 38 open seats at the February meeting, which left 20 people to stand in the hallway.
Because of the high tensions surrounding the issue, the opinion says the state board should’ve anticipated more people showing up and booked a bigger space in response.
Williams also accused board members of discussing the plan with their lawyer in private, but the opinion found no evidence those conversations violated state law.
The board eventually approve the plan from the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission, but state lawmakers punted on it just before gaveling out for the year.
No action will be taken, but board members are urged to consider moving meetings to larger rooms if they expect big crowds.
