Portland Public Schools board meets in executive session under 1 MRSA 405a, returns and adjourns

The Portland Board of Public Education moved into a closed executive session under state statute on Thursday night and adjourned after returning late.

Chair Lehi opened the special meeting at 8:19 p.m. and asked Dr. Warren to call the roll. After a roll call that noted several members present and that student representatives were not in attendance, Lehi moved "to enter into executive session, pursuant to 1 MRSA 405 a." Board member Opperman seconded the motion.

"So that is, unanimous with those present in the room," Lehi said after the voice vote, and the board went into executive session. The public record resumes with the board back in session at 11:08 p.m., when Lehi moved to adjourn; Opperman seconded that motion and the meeting was declared adjourned at 11:08 p.m.

The transcript and public record do not state the subject matter discussed in the executive session. The board cited "1 MRSA 405 a" as the statutory basis for closing the meeting; that citation was read aloud on the record before the vote to close. The roll call in the public minutes recorded Member Bridal, Member Lina, Member Noor, Member Opperman, Member Sautel and Chair Lehi as present; the transcript also indicates two student representative positions were not present.

No formal public actions or votes on policy items were recorded in the public portion of the meeting beyond the motion to enter executive session and the subsequent adjournment. The board returned from the closed session and took no further public business before adjourning.

The meeting transcript ends with an informal exclamation immediately after adjournment.

The board did not disclose any details of the closed-session discussion in the public transcript; any follow-up or public statement, if issued, was not included in the record provided.