The Times News Publ'g Co. v. The Alamance-Burlington Bd. of Educ.

DIETZ, Judge.

*376 In October 2013, the superintendent of the Alamance-Burlington County Schools agreed to a new, four-year employment contract approved by the local school board. Just seven months later, the school board held a closed meeting where the superintendent abruptly resigned and the board approved a $200,000 severance payment. The Times News Publishing Company then filed a request for the meeting minutes of the closed session so that it could report on the school board's handling of the superintendent's departure.

In particular, the Times News sought to learn why the school board paid…