Alleged Oklahoma Open Meetings Act Violation Causes Rift Among Tulsa Public School Board Members

After a lengthy Tulsa School Board meeting full of both excitement and disappointment, a new superintendent was voted in for Tulsa Public Schools, but even though the district solved one problem, some board members feel like they may have created another.

"Tulsa is no stranger to violating its own policies and for the manipulation and the corruption and divisiveness in its policy-making process," said board member Dr. Jennettie Marshall. 

Board member Dr. Jennettie Marshall says violations of the Open Meetings Act occurred during the executive session of Monday night's meeting.

"Well, then I would be violating the executive by openly discussing that," she said when asked about what the violations were specifically.

Some of the TPS school board members weren't concerned.

"We had a couple of attorneys in the room with us, as well as our board clerk. Any questions that law enforcement has, I'm sure that our attorneys would be happy to answer," said TPS Board President Stacey Woolley.

Attorney Kyle Alderson says some ways the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act could be violated include if a formal vote is taken during executive session or if topics not on the agenda are talked about.

"Obviously, the purpose of the Open Meeting Act is designed to encourage transparency in government," Alderson said. 

Dr. Marshall said she had plans to file a police report about the alleged violation.