Behind closed doors: Many area school districts violate Open Meetings Act

Many McHenry County school districts since 2004 repeatedly have violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act regarding closed-session meetings, according to records obtained by the Northwest Herald. Some apparently discussed public matters in private. District 300’s board has invoked closed session to discuss a lack of funds to honor two dead employees, Alden-Hebron District 19’s board discussed the Miss Hebron Pageant, and Prairie Grove District 46 discussed its bonding authority and school finances. For other boards, to which homeowners pay thousands of dollars a year in property taxes, it’s not so much what they are doing in closed session, but what they are not. Although Districts 300 and 46 regularly review and release their