Fri Sep 10 2010
After reading your article Dec. 27 on the testimony in my case against the Board of Education ( "Testimony ends in School Board trial," Page 1), I think your newspaper has failed in its obligation to report the facts impartially and fairly.
Your reporter's account did not reveal what I think is the most extraordinary aspect of the case ... the Board of Education rested without putting on a case against me.
My case is about the "self-policing" aspects of the Sunshine Law. Elected officials are duty bound to seek court review and remedial action when they have knowledge of violations of the Sunshine Laws. The public has a right to accountability and transparency from their elected officials. Your article should have touched on the evidence that serves as the basis for my claims.
Your newspaper failed to report that the Board put on no evidence to rebut my testimony alleging that the Board regularly failed to give notice of special meetings, took illegal votes during executive (closed door) sessions, changed the agenda during "special" meetings, abused the executive session privilege by either failing to cite the reason for going behind closed doors and/or discussing items clearly not permitted in executive session, and locked the doors to Board meetings resulting in not only my being locked out, but any citizen that may have tried to enter a meeting.
I wish you had reported that the Board's attorney insisted on excluding the public and the media from the courtroom during some of the most crucial parts of the testimony ... when I recited the examples of alleged violations of the Sunshine Law that took place during "executive sessions."
I hope readers keep an open mind until a final decision is made. Thanks to the coverage you've chosen to print, the public continues to be left in the dark on what this case is about.
Kellie Patterson
Cuyahoga Falls
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