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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The state Supreme Court has ruled that arbitrators are not covered by the state's Freedom of Information laws, denying the public's right to know what evidence is presented in arbitration hearings between teacher unions and school boards.
The Republican-American reports (http://bit.ly/1uuGtn8 ) that the case stems from a 2010 arbitration hearing between the Torrington Education Association and Torrington Board of Education.
The Republican-American filed a complaint with the Freedom of Information Commission after arbitrators barred a reporter from attending a portion of an arbitration hearing.
Justice Dennis Eveleigh wrote that arbitration panels are not committees of the Education Department under the Freedom of Information law.
Justice Carmen Elisa Espinosa disagreed, saying arbitration panels were not designated for administrative purposes only, which would keep them outside the jurisdiction of the Freedom of Information law.
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Information from: Republican-American, http://www.rep-am.com
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