By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-875472.mp3
Dallas, TX –
The Carrollton Farmers Branch School Board is being sued by a former Carrollton City Council member for allegedly violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.
In the lawsuit, Shirley Demus Tarpley claims the Board has repeatedly violated the rules governing closed-door discussions. She's presenting more than half-a-dozen board meeting video tapes to support her claim.
Attorney Kristine Skocpol-Saleh says her client believes the Board is not being transparent about the way it is making policy and spending money.
Skocpol-Saleh: Having a public meeting is a way to let the public know what the government is doing. It causes the government to think about what they're doing. And are they doing things that are in the best interest of the public itself.
Robert Luna, attorney for the Carrollton Farmers Branch School Board, referred comment to the school district. Administration officials have not returned phone calls.