Read on Twitter
We sent a letter to the Oconee County School Board urging it to increase public access to its meetings under the Open Meetings Act. We also urge the Board to unblock community members on social media in accordance with the First Amendment, among other demands.
Community members are concerned about the Board's lack of transparency, especially regarding its decisions on COVID-19 safety measures. The law requires that the Board's meetings be open to the public and accessible, which includes captioning.
The OCS Board limits public comment to those who attend meetings in person, forcing individuals to make a decision between making their voice heard and risking their health. Seats in the meeting room are not socially distanced and attendees frequently take off masks to talk.
Anonymous sources report that OCS staff who signed a petition pushing for heightened COVID-19 safety measures were called into their principal's office and confronted about their petition activity. Signing petitions is core protected conduct under the First Amendment.
The letter was written by Clinic legal fellow Samantha Hamilton, 2L Davis Wright, and 2L Mark Bailey, alumnus of the Oconee County School system.
