Marblehead — The School Committee has unanimously approved a corrective action plan after identifying and reporting an Open Meeting Law violation to state authorities. The decision came during the Committee’s most recent meeting, where members discussed the steps taken to self-report the issue and outlined measures to prevent future lapses.
Committee member Jenn Schaeffner explained that the process began after concerns were raised at the previous meeting about whether the Committee needed to report a potential violation.
“I went online, spoke with the state, and filed the complaint myself,” Schaeffner told the Committee. “There isn’t actually a self-reporting mechanism — it’s technically a complaint process. So I submitted it that way, explaining what happened and what the committee voted on.”
Jenn noted that the filing included a summary of the events and proposed remedies, as required by state law.
“Part of the complaint process is that the complainant needs to suggest corrective actions,” she said. “Then the board reviews those suggestions and votes to accept or modify them.”
As part of her proposed remedy, Schaeffner recommended that all committee members complete the state’s mandatory Open Meeting Law training. She stressed that the training was essential to reinforce the Committee’s commitment to open government.
She said, “It’s important that we all be thoughtful about this and agree to refrain from any actions that might undermine transparency. This is really about our commitment to the community.”
Schaeffner added that the training should be completed by Sept. 30, 2026 or later, with members providing verification once done.
Following discussion, the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
