Lawsuit Filed Against Ft. Smith School Board Members

Attorney Joey McCutchen filed a lawsuit on July 23 on behalf of Curtis Sorrells, a Ft. Smith resident, against Ft. Smith School Board members.  The lawsuit alleges that when the re- commendation to retire Southside's song and mascot was voted on by the Board in June, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act open meetings provision was violated.

The members who meet as the Committee of the Whole, which makes recommendations to the full Board, are the ones targeted in the lawsuit.  They are School Board members Jeannie Cole, Yvonne Keaton-Martin, Susan McFerran, Deanie Mehl and Wyman R. "Rick" Wade, Jr.

The lawsuit contends that only a closed meeting for the discussion of Superintendent Benny Gooden's yearly performance was called for on the meeting's notice for June 23.

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