FRANKFORT — The Community Schools of Frankfort Board of School Trustees will meet in executive session Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. at the CSF Education and Administration Center, 2400 E. Wabash St., with the sole stated topic of collective bargaining strategy, according to the district’s public notice.
What the Notice Says
The session, called in accordance with the Indiana Open Door Law (IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1), will be closed to the public. Board President Sandra Miller is listed as presiding officer.
Under the statutory agenda, the board checked only one exception item: IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(A), which permits closed-door discussion of “collective bargaining” strategy.
The district’s notice specifies the meeting is “strictly limited” to that topic.
None of the other exceptions listed on the notice — including litigation strategy, security procedures, real estate purchases, interviews of prospective employees, discussion of alleged misconduct, or job performance evaluations — was checked.
Why This Session Matters
Indiana’s Open Door Law generally requires public bodies to meet in the open, but it allows a narrow list of exceptions when boards must discuss sensitive matters, such as negotiations with employee unions. Collective bargaining strategy is among the most commonly cited reasons school boards close their doors.
The timing comes as districts across the state continue contract talks with teachers and support staff, though the notice does not indicate which bargaining unit or which contract is at issue. No additional details about the negotiations were included in the public notice.
Certification Requirement
The notice includes a Board Certification Memorandum, required under IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(d), in which board members certify that no subject matter was discussed other than what was specified in the public notice.
The memo carries a signature grid for the seven-member board: President Sandra Miller, Vice President Robert Marcum, Secretary James McQuade, and Trustees Mandi Mitchell, Joel Tatum and Mark Sanders.
What’s Next
Any official action resulting from the closed-door discussion — such as a tentative contract agreement — must be taken at a meeting open to the public under the Open Door Law.
Residents with questions about the session can contact the Community Schools of Frankfort administration at the Education and Administration Center, 2400 E. Wabash Street.