The second hearing for a Virginia Freedom of Information Act request denial by the Gloucester County School Board was ruled in favor of the petitioner, Katlyn Dooley, last Wednesday, May 17, in Gloucester General District Court.

Dooley emailed her request to Clerk of the School Board and FOIA Officer Carol Dehoux March 26. In her email to Dehoux, Dooley asked for a copy of all publicly accessible non-FOIA exempt recordings and documents from a Dec. 14, 2021 closed meeting of the Gloucester County School Board.

Dehoux responded five days later, and replied that “because the audio was recorded during a lawfully held closed meeting,” the entirety of the recording is covered under the Freedom of Information Act and therefore is not public.

In her response, Dehoux provided Dooley with the only available document furnished or discussed during the closed meeting, which included roll call by acting clerk, call back to open meeting and certification for closed meeting, and motion to a...