State finding: the School Committee broke the Open Meetings Act, and votes had to be taken again

What happened

The School Committee called a special meeting on August 4, 2026 whose agenda states that items previously voted on were being put back on the agenda for reconsideration and a new vote "in accordance with a decision and order issued by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office." The items re-voted were more than a dozen employment contracts for non-union staff. The August 18, 2026 agenda lists a public announcement of the violation, citing finding OM 26-28, Jones v. North Kingstown School Committee.

Why it matters to families

Open meetings rules exist so families can see decisions being made. A finding that the rules were broken means some decisions were made in a way the public could not follow, and had to be redone.

The evidence

The August 4, 2026 special meeting agenda carries the notice that items were re-agendaed for a new vote under an Attorney General decision and order; the August 18, 2026 agenda lists the item "Public Announcement: North Kingstown School Committee (NKSC) Violation of Open Meetings Act (OMA) OM 26-28 Jones v. North Kingstown School Committee" with the finding attached.

The source