From the Hotline

By Teri Henning, General Counsel
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

Q: A School Board is in the process of filling a vacancy on the board and the whole board will be interviewing potential candidates. Should the interviews be done at a public meeting?

A: Yes. Although the Sunshine Act contains a “personnel exception,” which allows agency members to meet to discuss employees and certain public officials, the exception does not apply to discussions involving the appointment or selection of any person to fill a vacancy in any elected office. Any discussions (by a quorum) relating to the filling of a board vacancy must occur in public.

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