Opening Your Mind to Closed Sessions
By Katie DiPiero
Attorney
Robbins Schwartz
Brittany Flaherty Theis
Partner
Robbins Schwartz
The Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) is built upon a public policy of transparency, with an intent that the public have an opportunity to be informed and that deliberations of public bodies be conducted openly.1 Not all business, however, is appropriate for open session. Open meetings are the “default.” Exceptions to those requirements are strictly construed against closed meetings. These requirements in favor of the citizens’ right to know may leave school board members and administrators wondering how to balance discussions of sensitive topics. This article discusses some of the common considerations and best practices to help schools make decisions regarding closed session business.