End run by MCC Trustees?

McHenry County Blog informs (alerts? warns!) voters of a Special Meeting being called by the McHenry County College (MCC) Board of Trustees that contains an Executive Session and "Contract Extension for the President".

The Special Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, 6:00PM in the Board Room at MCC.

Cal Skinner's article indicates that he believes the contract for President Vicky Smith may expire July 9.

Three new Trustees were elected on April 9 and are to be seated soon. However, their joining the Board will be after the date of the Special Meeting.

It seems unusual to me that Smith's contract would not have been addressed well before now, if it does expire July 9. If she were planning to leave, wouldn't she give more than three months notice? If the Board wanted her to pack her bags, wouldn't they have told her months ago, so they could begin a search for her replacement?

Did the Board have some discussions among themselves (with all due respect for the Open Meetings Act) and come to agreement to keep her?

When do the three new Trustees join the Board? According to the MCC website, the final meeting of the retiring Board will be April 25, and the organizational meeting of the new Board will immediately follow on that same evening.

So, just what color wool is the current Board attempting to pull over the eyes of the voters by calling a Special Meeting on April 16?

The agenda for the Special Meeting (see it on McHenry County Blog) fails to meet the Open Meetings Act requirements, because the wording does not clearly indicate that a vote after the Executive Session is to be taken (if, indeed, a vote is planned).

If the current Board does vote on April 16, this will constitute a violation of the Open Meetings Act, but it might not invalidate the vote itself. It should; otherwise, the OMA has not power.

Thanks for the reportings, Cal.