From the Edwards Law Firm:
Makaila Keyes v. School Board of the County of Spotsylvania, Kirk Twigg, April Gillespie, Lisa A. Phelps, Rabih Abuismail
The Edwards Law Firm PLLC has been retained to conduct an ongoing, independent legal investigation of the Spotsylvania County School Board regarding alleged violations of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), employment, and education law. If warranted, a formal recall action will be pursued against any members whose conduct suggests neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties, such that the School Board’s duty to serve the best interests of the students and community has been materially compromised.
The School Board has been properly notified of our intent to file suit on behalf of petitioner and former Spotsylvania County student, Makaila Keyes, age 19. Ms. Keyes is exercising her rights and privileges under the Virginia FOIA.
The petition alleges that School Board Chairman Mr. Kirk Twigg willfully and knowingly violated Ms. Keyes’ rights when, against the warnings of certain colleagues, he chose to: (1) Propose, push, and pass a substantially and materially altered meeting agenda without an opportunity for public inspection; (2) Declare and conduct an unlawful closed meeting that was on neither the original proposed agenda, nor on the substantially and materially altered substitute agenda, and; (3) Declare and conduct an unlawful closed meeting without holding a vote to go into closed session. Vice Chair Mrs. April Gillespie, along with Members Mrs. Lisa A. Phelps and Mr. Rabih Abuismail, are also alleged to have willfully and knowingly violated Ms. Keyes’ rights and privileges under Virginia FOIA when they followed Chairman Twigg into the unlawful closed meeting without a vote, without public notice, and against their colleagues’ warnings of impending FOIA violations.
Ms. Keyes requests relief in the form of: (1) Writs of Mandamus directing Chairman Twigg, Vice Chair Gillespie, and Members Phelps and Abuismail to abide by the Virginia FOIA and by the School Board Manual Code of Ethics, respectively; (2) An enjoinder prohibiting the named School Board members from violating the Virginia FOIA moving forward; (3) Fines of not less than $4,500 nor more than $17,000 to be imposed individually on each named School Board member, to be paid to the Literary Fund towards educational purposes, such as educator and staff salaries, new school construction, building repairs, and the purchase of classroom supplies, and; (4) Attorney fees.
The Edwards Law Firm PLLC is committed to maintaining the independence and impartiality of this investigation, and to pursuing any legal action necessary to serve the best interests of Spotsylvania County students. Our mission is to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability among Board members; and to restore public faith and trust in the Board’s ability to serve its mission.
