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The school board went into an immediate executive session after hearing from two approved speakers and approving an agenda. 

School board members say they went into executive session to discuss the lawsuit from FOX 31 News and two other local media outlets.  David Maschke says because of the nature of executive session they cannot divulge the details of what happened, and according to the restraining order against the school board, they are also not allowed to comment about the case. 

The school board voted 4-2 to approve former school board member and current Albany attorney Willie Weaver to handle the litigation at the rate of $100 an hour.  David Maschke abstained from the vote citing personal conflict of interest as the reason.

School board member Rev. James Bush says they selected Weaver because he understands school board law.  “He knows school law and understands executive session etcetera and he’s a good lawyer. An honest lawyer.  And you want people representing you in court that you fully trust know the law” says Bush.

Superintendent Dr. Sally Whatley read a three page document at the meeting detailing exactly what steps have been taken by the school system in addressing the allegations that test scores were changed on CRCT testing.

School board chairman David Maschke says the school system is doing multiple things at the same time to address the issue.  “Dr. Whatley and the administration have asked for the actual test forms to be returned to the school system so they can be examined.  Dr. Whatley has engaged an independent panel of experts to review the data from the professional standards commission.  Dr. Whatley has also asked the board’s own consultant to look into restructuring the school system and other things” says Maschke.

The school board also confirmed that they will restructure how the next round of CRCT scores are given.  All schools with moderate or severe testing issues will rotate teachers so no teacher administering a test has a student he/she teaches in a classroom setting.