Behind closed doors — 2024–25 data shows wide differences in time spent in executive sessions
Wyoming state law outlines when public bodies may meet privately in executive session, but because the public and press are not permitted to observe those discussions or review their minutes, closed-door meetings can raise questions about transparency and accountability.
What can be measured from the public record is how much time governing bodies spend in executive session, who most often initiates those sessions, and the reasons cited for invoking exceptions to Wyoming’s Open Meetings and Public Records Law. The News Letter Journal compared executive-session use in calendar years 2024 and 2025 for the four Weston County boards with the largest budgets and asked current and former board leaders to explain how and why those figures changed.
School board time increases
The Weston County School District No. 1 board of trustees spent a larger share of its meeting time in executive session in 2025 than in the prior year.
In calendar year 2024, the board spent 870 of 2,035 total meeting minutes — 43% — in executive session. In 2025, executive-session time increased to 1,461 of 2,926 minutes, or 49.93%.
In 2025, meeting minutes show that trustee Jason Jenkins most frequently made the motion to enter executive session. That year, the most commonly cited reasons for executive sessions were discussion of information legally classified as confidential, which occurred nine times, followed by personnel matters and student-related issues.
Dana Mann-Tavegia, who was chair throughout 2025 and 2024, said the increase does not necessarily reflect more issues, but longer-running ones. In 2024, the most common reasons cited for executive sessions were personnel matters — including Superintendent Brad LaCroix’s contract — and legal updates. Some matters, she said, carried over into subsequent years.
“The board strictly adheres to Wyoming State Statute 16-4-405 regarding executive sessions,” Mann-Tavegia said. “We regularly seek attorney advice on whether or not a matter must be considered in executive session, and we have an attorney present or available on the phone for those sessions.”
Mann-Tavegia said some issues require extended consideration over many months, especially when outside legal entities are involved.
“It is important to understand that we have sometimes needed to discuss a single matter over a period of a year or more, so one issue can require 20 or more executive sessions,” she said.
“We do take our time with these important issues, and receiving all the pertinent information presented, taking all questions and allowing all parties to have their say is more important than the number of minutes spent in those discussions,” Mann-Tavegia said.
She emphasized that no votes are taken in executive session and that all final actions occur in public meetings.
“We take our oaths of office seriously, and following the statutory requirements is part of our jobs, and no votes are made in executive session,” Mann-Tavegia said. Those votes are always made in public. We consistently do our best to conduct district business with fidelity and will continue to do so.”
New chair maintains approach
Billy Fitzwater, who became board chair in January, said the board’s use of executive session remains grounded in statute.
“If you refer to the state statute, we only hold executive sessions when the approved criteria is present. The rest of the meeting is open to public,” Fitzwater said. “I will uphold my elected duties according to the state statute and requirements.”
He added that when statutory criteria are met, the board is required to meet in executive session.
County remains lowest
The Weston County Board of Commissioners continued to spend the smallest portion of its meeting time in executive session among the four boards tracked.
In 2024, commissioners spent 173 of 4,334 minutes — about 4% — in executive session. In 2025, that increased to 406 of 6,005 minutes, or 6.76%.
In 2025, Commissioner Garrett Borton most frequently made motions to enter executive session. As in 2024, the most common reasons for entering executive sessions were personnel matters and proposed litigation.
Board Chair Nathan Todd said he is comfortable with the amount of time spent in executive session.
“We implemented a new employee handbook a couple years ago, and a lot of our time in sessions are employee related as we are trying to take a more proactive path regarding our employees well-being and concerns,” he told the NLJ.
Hospital board numbers decline
The hospital board saw a notable decline in executive-session use from 2024 to 2025.
In 2024, the board spent roughly 48% of its documented meeting time — 2,119 of 4,429 minutes — in executive session, a figure that included meetings with incomplete time documentation and spanning a leadership transition mid-year. In 2025, executive-session time dropped to 1,023 of 2,996 minutes, or 34.2%.
Minutes show that board members Nathan Ballard and Ben Roberts most frequently made motions to enter executive session.
The most commonly cited reasons were personnel matters, which occurred 15 times, and consideration of information legally classified as confidential, which occurred 14 times.
Hospital board Chair Ann Slagle said closed sessions are often unavoidable, given the hospital’s mission and workforce.
“The mission of the hospital is to take care of and help patients; we can’t talk about their information in public session,” Slagle said.
She cited employee confidentiality — the hospital employs about 200 people — and the need to ensure that all board members can fully participate in decision-making. Slagle said she expects executive-session use to continue declining as leadership works toward a healthier organizational culture.
City Council cuts executive sessions by more than half
The Newcastle City Council recorded the sharpest year-over-year change.
In 2024, the council spent 248 of 1,788 minutes — 13.9% — in executive session. In 2025, that dropped to 163 of 2,510 minutes, or 6.49%.
In 2025, Council Member Daren Downs most frequently made the motion to enter executive session, according to meeting minutes. The most common reasons cited were personnel matters, followed by selection or purchase of real estate and proposed litigation.
Mayor Tyrel Owens attributed the reduction to a deliberate shift in approach after his election.
“It was kind of a campaign promise of mine to try to handle as much business as we could in the public eye,” Owens said. “We only go in when necessary, and I usually consult with legal counsel before we have an executive session to see if there’s any of the business that can be handled in the open meeting.”
Owens said executive sessions during his first year were limited largely to personnel matters, with one or two sessions involving litigation and some related to real estate.
“I think that we observed all of the executive session rules to their fullest,” he said. “I didn’t go in unless we absolutely had to, and I’m pretty pleased with only being in executive session for the last year for 6.49% of the time.”
Owens said he wants to keep the portion of City Council meeting time spent in executive session low.
Tracking continues
As in 2024, the NLJ compiled executive-session data from publicly available meeting minutes and time records. Because executive-session discussions themselves are not open to the public, the data reflects only duration, stated reasons and procedural actions such as motions —
not the substance of closed discussions.
The NLJ will continue tracking executive-session use by these boards and reporting on trends so the community can monitor how often elected officials conduct public business behind closed doors.