Grand Ledge schools claims immunity, denies violating the law in response to lawsuit

GRAND LEDGE - In its response to a lawsuit filed last month, Grand Ledge Public Schools claims its Board of Education "fully complied with their obligations under the Open Meetings Act" when people who wished to speak at a June meeting were asked to identify themselves and provide personal information.

Grand Ledge schools claim the school district "is a government agency and is immune" from a lawsuit that Amber Redman filed in Eaton County Circuit Court, according to court documents submitted by the district's attorneys.

In the lawsuit, Redman claims a form people were asked to fill out at board meetings is "inconsistent" with the law and the district's own policies. The lawsuit names the school district, the board and its seven members.

A photo of a public comment form from the July 12 board meeting included with the lawsuit shows it provided space for a person's name, address and the topic they wished to discuss. It also asked people to indicate whether they wished to speak about items on the board's agenda.

The board's policy states that "each person wishing to address the Board shall identify themselves by name and jurisdiction."

But Redman's lawsuit states "the Form required information inconsistent with and in excess of that required under the Board's 'established' and 'recorded' policies."

The lawsuit also claims the form is "inconsistent" with the Open Meetings Act., which states a "person must be permitted to address a meeting of a public body under rules established and recorded by the public body."

The school district filed its response to the lawsuit earlier this month.

"The school board conducted itself appropriately, simple as that," said Timothy Mullins, an attorney representing Grand Ledge Public Schools and the school board.

Redman's attorney, Eric Delaporte, declined to comment on the school district's response to the lawsuit.

District claims form didn't violate policies

According to Redman's lawsuit, a school district employee told Redman "she believed the Board would deny individuals the opportunity to speak during the public comment segment if they did not fill out the Forms."

The school district's response claims "all individuals were allowed to address the Board of Education in the course of the meetings referenced" and that the meetings were conducted according to district policies.

Last month, Board President Sara Clark Pierson said the district introduced the public comment forms on June 28 after people who attended a previous meeting "ran at the stage" and were "loud and disruptive" while waiting in line to speak to the board. 

The decision was made after people, some from outside the district, attended several board meetings to express concerns about the potential implementation of critical race theory in schools.

The form was introduced to ensure members of the public would stay seated until they are called on to speak, Pierson said.

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The forms are still being used at each Board of Education meeting, Pierson said Wednesday. They have been used at board meetings "on and off over the years when we have a large group of people," she said.

Grand Ledge claims it is immune from the lawsuit "for civil damages" and that Redman "is not entitled to an award of attorney fees."

A scheduling conference has been set for next month with Eaton County Circuit Court Judge Janice Cunningham.

Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ .