The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that Parkland School District did not violate the Sunshine Act when its school board added an agenda item during an October 2021 meeting.
State Sen. Jarrett Coleman had filed a lawsuit against the district before he held the office.
The Commonwealth Court found that the Parkland School District violated the Sunshine Act when it amended its agenda in October 2021 to include the consideration of a collective bargaining agreement without providing advance public notice.
A Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge had ruled that Parkland School District violated the Sunshine Act when it did so.
The state supreme court reversed that decision in a ruling earlier this week.
A 2021 amendment to the Sunshine Act says an agency needs to post the agenda for the meetings on its website no later than 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
In its ruling this week, the Pa. Supreme Court noted the amendment allows an agenda item to be added at the meeting if a majority of board members vote to do so.
The amendment says the reasons for the changes need to be announced at the meeting before any vote is taken to make the changes to the agenda.
The agency can then vote on the matter at the meeting, the amendment says.
The Sunshine Act says an agency needs to give public notice of its first regular meeting of each calendar or fiscal year no less than three days in advance of the meeting.