A King County Superior Court judge ruled that the Kent School Board twice violated the state’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) during an executive session in June 2023 and again in May 2024.

Judge Karen Donohue issued her decision July 29, according to court documents. Donohue granted summary judgment to plaintiffs Joseph and Allison Riley, residents of the Kent School District, who filed the civil suit Sept. 23, 2024 against the district and the board. Donohue agreed with a motion for summary judgement to allow her to make a ruling on the case rather than going to a jury trial because there was no genuine dispute of material facts.

The OPMA is set up so that governing bodies discuss most topics in public meetings. Closed or executive sessions are allowed only for certain topics, such as

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