At the beginning of the Mountain Home School Board’s meeting this past Thursday night, the evening started with board meeting in executive session with their lawyer to discuss the lawsuit filed by Fort Smith attorney Joey McCutchen on behalf of Melissa Klinger, who according to the court filing, lives in both Baxter and Crittenden counties.
The lawsuit concerns violations of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act made by the Mountain Home School Board and former Superintendent Dr. Jake Long in 2023. The suit does not ask for any damages, only for the court to declare text messages sent between Long and school board members constituted an illegal meeting and a violation of the open-meeting provisions of FOIA and for attorney’s fees.
A large number of people showed up for the meeting, concerned about the executive session, but Superintendent Allyson Dewey told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News everything they did was legal.
Listen:
In an interview at the board meeting Thursday night, McCutchen called the executive session a “secret” meeting and says even though it is legal, it’s not something the board should do.
Listen:
Dewey says when it comes to legal matters, obviously you don’t have the other side be part of the discussions you have with your attorney.
Listen:
The lawsuit does not ask for monetary damages. So what does the plaintiff and her attorney want from the lawsuit?
Listen:
The Fort Smith lawyer says the lawsuit is also intended to send a message to other elected officials around the state.
Listen:
The Mountain Home Superintendent says she wants the focus from last Thursday night to be on what the board did for the students, not the outside distractions.
Listen:
The lawsuit was filed in Baxter County Circuit Court May 31. The school district has 30 days to file a response.
Three local judges, Johnnie Copeland, Andrew Bailey and Deanna “Suzie” Layton, have all recused themselves from hearing the case.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI