Pub. 9 2019-2020 Issue 3

17 We provide the most personalized business services and financial analysis to charter schools who value autonomy. Monty Hardy 801.394.4140 433 N 1500 W Ogden, UT 84404 www.redapplefinance.com Pantone 195 Pantone 186 Black Pantone 389 Pantone 377 in the electronic meeting. Follow the State Board of Education and State Charter School Board examples who stream meetings through their YouTube chan- nels. At the very least, you can provide a phone number for the public to listen to the meeting, but mute any observers. • Inform the public if comments from the public will be accepted during an electronic meeting. If you will be accepting comments from the public, you need to provide a means and notify the public how they may participate remotely. • Adopt an electronic meeting policy. Each charter school that is conducting board meetings electronically needs to have a policy in place. Governor Herbert issued an executive order in March 2020, suspending the enforcement of some provisions of the OPMA. The executive order is in force until the termination of the state of emergency declared by Executive Order. A charter school that convenes or conducts an electronic meeting is not required to: • Post written notice at the principal office of the public body. However, the best practice when educational instruction is occurring on-site is to post the agenda at the school. • Establish one or more anchor locations for the public meeting. • Provide space and facilities at an anchor location so that interested persons and the public may physically attend. While OPMA specifies that meetings are generally open, closed meetings are allowed by law and can be held during the current pandemic. When conducting a closed meeting, it is best to set up a second electronic meeting that the public does not have access to. A charter school board that simply excuses the public from the electronic meeting cannot ensure the security of the closed meeting. With a little bit of planning, charter schools can continue to meet the requirements of OPMA. Many schools have demonstrated a commitment to openness, accountability and transparency in the charter school community throughout the pandemic. We encourage your board to do the same. When conducting a closed meeting, it is best to set up a second electronic meeting that the public does not have access to. A char ter school board that simply excuses the public from the electronic meeting cannot ensure the security of the closed meeting.