A King County Superior Court judge has ruled that the Kent School Board violated Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) in two separate instances, reinforcing the state’s broad expectation that government business be conducted in public view.

The ruling, issued July 29, 2025 by Judge Karen Donohue, found that portions of two board meetings—one in June 2023, another in May 2024—included discussions that should have taken place publicly. The lawsuit was filed by Kent residents Joseph and Allison Riley, who argued that the board used executive sessions to discuss general policy matters that belong in open meetings.

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What Happened

The court identified two violations:

1. Superintendent Evaluation Process (May 15, 2024)
   The board met privately to discuss how to evaluate the superintendent—covering topics like evaluation criteria and tools. While personnel performance can sometimes be discussed privately, the court ruled that the process itself must be public, since it shapes how accountability is measured.
2. Energy Project Discussion (June 28, 2023)
   During another closed meeting, the board discussed legal and financial risks of a proposed battery energy storage facility near Mattson Middle School. The meeting notice did not clearly describe the purpose, and the session began earlier than publicly announced—both considered violations of the OPMA.

The judge did not find all of the Rileys’ claims valid. Two other alleged violations, both involving board discussions with legal counsel, were deemed permissible under existing exemptions for litigation and personnel risk.

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What It Means

The ruling carries no criminal penalty but serves as a public reminder that transparency is the default expectation in Washington’s government bodies.

The OPMA requires that almost all decisions by elected officials be made publicly, with only narrow exceptions. Violations can erode public trust—even when unintentional—because closed discussions limit residents’ ability to observe how policy decisions form.

Legal observers note that rulings like this one reaffirm the importance of clear meeting notices, well-documented executive session justifications, and an assumption of openness rather than closed sessions.

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Why It Matters

• Public Understanding: School boards control large budgets and decisions that directly affect students, staff, and taxpayers. When those deliberations are closed, accountability weakens.
• Consistency Across Districts: The ruling offers a learning opportunity for other South King County boards to review their own executive session practices.
• Local Oversight: Even well-meaning boards can overstep; this decision reminds public officials that process transparency is as essential as outcome transparency.

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Next Steps

The Kent School District has not indicated whether it plans to appeal but stated that it would review procedures to ensure compliance with state law. Residents can watch future agendas to see whether meeting notices become more detailed and whether closed sessions are more narrowly defined.

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