Executive session
Definition
An executive session is a closed-door portion of an otherwise public meeting, allowed only for specific topics like pending lawsuits, personnel matters, labor negotiations, or real estate deals.1 Final votes generally must still happen in open session.
Why it matters
Executive session topics are limited by law, but the limits are enforced mainly by whoever notices a board straying off-topic behind closed doors, since there's no public record of the discussion unless someone leaks it or a court compels disclosure. Overuse of executive session is one of the more common open-meetings violations local watchdogs report.
Seen in the wild
In May 2024, nine community members sued the West Shore School District board in Pennsylvania, alleging its new majority violated the state's Sunshine Act by privately discussing and agreeing to fire the district's longtime attorney and hire a replacement outside any properly noticed open or executive session.2