Butzel Long attorney Robin Luce-Herrmann interviewed by Wood 8 TV: Media should have been allowed in school meeting
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — Godfrey-Lee Public Schools hosted a meeting Monday night to inform the community about the progress on repairs to the roof of Lee Middle and High School, which collapsed twice in June.
But when 24 Hour News 8’s Leon Hendrix wanted to get in to cover the meeting he was kept out under orders of Superintendent Kevin Polston.
There are two issues at stake — whether the school district violated the Open Meeting Act when it barred the media, as well as whether in choosing to exclude one group of people they violated the First Amendment.
“The Open Meetings Act doesn’t allow a public body to exclude anyone ahead of time,” according to Robin Luce-Herrmann, an attorney for the Michigan Press Association.