Update on Wyoming Open Meetings case
Thanks to Wyoming Project Sunshine Chair Brian Martin for an update on the closed meeting situation in Wyoming mentioned earlier on this blog.
Natrona Co. School District to open meetings to public
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) – Two weeks after Natrona County School District officials
barred reporters from a committee meeting where school schedules were being
discussed, the district has decided to open such meetings to the public.
On Oct. 17, the district's Compact Issues Committee voted to open its
meetings, as well as interest-based agreement process meetings, Compact Steering
meetings and Problem Solver meetings, to the public.
The Casper Journal on Oct. 3 tried to attend an IBAP meeting at which
committee members were deciding such questions as what time school would start
in the morning. Publisher Dale Bohren and a reporter were told they couldn't
attend the meeting.
Bohren and Casper Star-Tribune Editor Clark Walworth said they would ask the
school district to reconsider.
The Star-Tribune praised the district's decision to open the meetings in an
editorial Thursday.
``We commend the district for having the wisdom to reverse course and allow
the public to witness its proceedings,'' the newspaper wrote. ``Issues such as
the school calendar affect many in the community because so many activities are
scheduled around school events. The district's decision recognizes that not
every person has the time to be 'IBAP trained,' but people have the right to
attend the sessions.''