Ventura County prosecutors have issued a cease and desist order to a school district, saying that its Board of Education violated the state’s open meeting laws.
The Ojai Unified School District has been looking at issues like staff cuts because of a major financial shortfall. During a February meeting, the school board met in closed session to discuss possible reductions. The planned discussion was on the agenda, as required by law.
But, DA’s office investigators say after the session, a trustee questioned the closed session, saying they had actually decided to make cuts. They say a trustee also said that during the closed session they gave staff direction on a number of things related to cuts.
The cease and desist letter from the DA’s office orders the school board to pass a resolution committing that it won’t violate the open meeting law, which is known as the Brown Act.
