The following article appeared in the August 29th, 2007 edition of the Bosque County News:
DA INVESTIGATES GAP BOARD OVER
OPEN MEETING COMPLAINTS
Bosque County Distirct Attorney B. J. Shepherd has confirmed that he is investigating a complaint that members of the Cranfills Gap school board violated the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Board member Sue Lee, who brought the complaint, said board members Kathie Witte, Kenny Wiese, Jeff Rose, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, and Ray Sorrels and former Superintendent Carla Sigler violated the act during a hearing for valedictorian Kaitlan Head on May 25.
Head, who had been suspended after an altercation with salutatorian Sarah Sellers, had appealed the disciplinary hearing action by Sigler and requested an open hearing. The board, despite protests by Head's attorney, John Cullar, and the Bosque County News, attempted to close the hearing and went into closed session, ostensibly to consult with their attorney by phone.
During that session, said Lee, Sigler showed board members signed statements from several persons--allegedly witnesses to the altercation between Head and Sellers---in an attempt to convince the board that the incident was in fact a criminal assault by Head.
The hearing was eventually opened, but presenting and considering that information in closed session--with no consultation with the attorney--would be a violation.
Shepherd, on Friday, August 24, said he was reviewing material from Lee and could not speculate on the validity of the charge.
Violation of the act is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 and the possibility of a jail sentence of up to six months.
End of newspaper article
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