MCC president says sorry

McHenry County College President Walt Packard has made a public apology for a February incident in which two security guards escorted four people out of the building while waiting for a closed session board meeting to reopen.

"I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and would like to assure the public that this incident will not be repeated," Packard read from a written statement.

Board member Scott Summers also extended an apology to the group for the misunderstanding and vowed to cooperate with the McHenry County state's attorney's investigation into whether the school violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

The office is in the midst of wrapping up its probe and will release its findings and what recommended action to take, if any, within the next two weeks, said Jamie Rein, assistant state's attorney in the civil division.

The situation at the heart of the matter occurred about 10 p.m. Feb. 29 after board members went into a closed session -- something they're entitled to do by law when they're discussing certain sensitive matters such as personnel or pending litigation.

While a group of four people -- including a member of the press and a local blogger -- waited outside the room with the intent of going back in after the end of the closed session -- a pair of security guards approached the group and told them they had to leave the building, officials said.

School officials have said the security guards weren't aware their actions appeared to run counter to the Open Meetings Act, which says people must leave the room during closed sessions -- but not the actual building.

The school has a long-standing policy of closing the campus to students and the public at 10 p.m.

And in light of the Valentine's Day shootings at Northern Illinois University, the college's security has been "even more vigilant" to secure the campus, Packard explained.