BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) The North Dakota Board of Higher Education wants discussions on the hiring and firing of a university system chancellor to be held in secret.
The board is pushing the measure that would hold such discussions in executive session unless the chancellor or candidate being considered asks for the discussion to be public.
The Senate already has approved the bill.
Interim Chancellor Larry Skogen told the House Education Committee on Monday that holding a secret meeting allows board members to be more candid in discussing evaluations of the chancellor.
North Dakota Newspaper Association attorney Jack McDonald says the public should not be left out of the process.
The committee took no immediate action on the bill. The full House will consider it later.