SCOTT CITY RESIDENT FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST SCHOOLS

SCOTT CITY -- A former Scott City police chief signed a formal complaint against the Scott City Board of Education Wednesday for violating the Missouri Sunshine Law.

The Missouri Sunshine Law mandates openness of government and requires that "meetings, records, votes, actions and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise specified by law." The law allows for closed government meetings in specific circumstances; however, the governing body must return to open session to adjourn the meeting.

In his complaint David Beck accuses board members of violating this law when they adjourned a public meeting while behind locked doors at Scott City High School.

Beck said he had decided to attend the school board meeting because he wanted to join other parents who were voicing concerns about an open gym policy at the high school. He said the meeting was already in progress when he arrived, and a custodian told him where the meeting was taking place. All of the doors leading into the meeting room were locked, he said, but the meeting was still in session.

"I heard voices behind the doors, and after trying every door leading into the meeting room, I used a pay phone to call the police," he said. "They proceeded to check all of the doors, then one of the officers pulled out a complaint form and I proceeded to sign a complaint."

Beck said board members came out of the room soon after he completed the form and, when questioned by police officers, said the meeting had just ended. They told officers they didn't know the doors were locked, he said.

"They're using the excuse that they were in executive session, but I think I have the right to address the board when they come out of executive session," he said. "I told them it didn't matter; if it's a government meeting you are obligated to go back into public session, ask if there's anymore business, and then adjourn the meeting."

Superintendent Roger Tatum said he had talked with Beck on Friday but was unable to comment on the situation due to legal considerations. A spokesperson from Scott County Prosecutor Cristy Baker-Neel's office said Neel was aware of the complaint but hadn't received any paperwork from the Scott City Police Department.

Beck said he hopes the complaint will be seriously considered by Neel because the matter is a serious one. "The Sunshine Law is important for the media, parents, for everyone," he said. "You don't lock the public out."