Del. Op. Atty. Gen. 95-IB04 (Del.A.G.), 1995 WL 794535
Office of the Attorney General
State of Delaware
Opinion No. 95-IB04
January 23, 1995 (concluding that school board violated open meeting provisions of FOIA by discussing “public business” at informal breakfast meetings)
RE: Freedom of Information Act Complaint 29 Del. C. §10005(e)
*1 Ms. Kathleen M. Morozowich
R. D. 2, Box 166
Bridgeville, DE 19933
James D. Griffin, Esquire
Griffin & Hackett, P.A.
Mellon Bank Building- Second floor
14 The Circle
P.O. Box 612
Georgetown, DE 19947
Dear Ms. Morozowich and Mr. Griffin:
This is the decision on the above-referenced Freedom of Information Act Complaint.
The operative facts are that Ms. Morozowich (the “complainant”) filed the instant complaint on or about December 19, 1994. The complainant alleged, inter alia, the Woodbridge School District (the “District”) was holding closed monthly meetings for all Board members in violation of Delaware’s Open Meeting Law. The complainant enclosed in her complaint a copy of the District’s breakfast meeting announcement which was held at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 1994. She alleges that despite corrective efforts the District continues to violate the law and requests the Attorney General’s office to immediately invoke the enforcement provisions contained in 29 Del. C. §10005(e). A copy of said notice is attached and appended to this opinion as Exhibit “A”.
On January 11, 1995 the District responded to the complaint. The District asserted under the Act that the instant complaint involves an interpretation of 29 Del. C. §10002(e) defining a meeting. The District stated that the breakfast meeting has occurred for a number of years and the purpose of this meeting “[i]s to allow the Board, the administrative staff and selected invitees from among the secretarial, instructional and custodial staffs to meet in an informal atmosphere.” (Response at 1). The District stated that discussion at the meeting is “primarily led by the Superintendent who provides the introduction of the invitees allowing each of them to present some brief biographical information, explaining their backgrounds, their present jobs and offering suggestions for betterment of the school system.” (Response at 1,2). The District asserted that it believes does not conduct public business and does not hold any form of Executive Sessions. Finally, the District states that based on the above description of the activities at the breakfast, it believed that the meeting does not meet the definition of a public “meeting” in § 10002(e).
A review of the Board’s December 6, 1994 notice indicate that the same is written on Woodbridge School District stationary and is from Mr. Dan Kingery, Assistant Superintendent in re: “Monthly District Breakfast”. It stated as follows:
The Board of Education cordially invites you to join them for breakfast in Woodbridge Early Childhood Cafeteria on Tuesday, December 13, 1994 at 7:00 a.m. Please mark your calendar with this important date.
The Board and Administration values your input and the opportunity to share breakfast with you. We hope that you also consider this a valuable opportunity to meet together. Please make every effort to attend. We look forward to meeting with you on December 13, 1994.
*2 According to the memorandum, the Board of Education, Robert C. Sutton, Superintendent and Administrative Staff received copies.
 
THE LAW
 
§10001. Declaration of Policy.
It is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that our citizens shall have the opportunity to observe the performance of public officials and to monitor the decisions that are made by such officials in formulating and executing public policy; and further, it is vital that citizens have easy access to public records in order that the society remain free and democratic. Toward these ends, and to further the accountability of government to the citizens of this State, this chapter is adopted, and shall be construed.
 
* * *
 
29 Del. C. §10002(b).
“Public business” means any matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power.
 
* * *
 
29 Del. C. §10002(e).
“Meeting” means the formal or informal gathering of a quorum of the members of any public body for the purpose of discussing or taking action on public business.
 
DECISION AND ORDER
 
For the following reasons, the Attorney General believes a violation of the Act has occurred. From the characterization of the District’s counsel as outlined above, the discussion of the meeting is “primarily led by the Superintendent who provides the introduction of the invitees allowing each of them to present some biographical information, explaining their backgrounds, their present jobs, and offering suggestions for betterment of the school system.” First, the District does not dispute that a quorum of the Board is present. 29 Del. C. §10002(e). Second, by the District’s own analysis, a discussion by the invited employees involves “offering suggestions for the betterment of the school system” in their official capacity which this office finds clearly constitutes the “discussing of public business.” 29 Del. C. § 10002(e). It also is clear from the District’s response that this discussion concerns matters over which the District has “supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power.” 29 Del. C. §10002(b).
If the Board continues to hold said meetings, this office formally requests that the District re-notice the instant meetings and comply with all the recordkeeping and notice provisions of the Act including, but not limited to, 29 Del. C. §10004(b), (c), (e), and (f). If the District fails to comply with these provisions of the Act, this office shall immediately invoke the enforcement provisions contained in 29 Del. C. §10005(e).
Sincerely,
John K. Welch
Deputy Attorney General
 
APPROVED:
 
Michael F. Foster
State Solicitor
Del. Op. Atty. Gen. 95-IB04 (Del.A.G.), 1995 WL 794535

End of Document

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