Correction: A sentence was removed from an earlier version of this article because it gave a misleading impression of the reason the board went into executive session.

The board of Lycée Francais held a special meeting March 26 to review the performance of Jill Otis, the school’s chief executive officer. The board also began the nomination process for board chairman and for treasurer. There was one community member in attendance.

The board went into a closed executive session after the nominations ended in order to evaluate Otis’ performance, a personnel issue of the type that state law allows a board to review in a session not open to the public. The session lasted over an hour and board members will not vote on issues discussed until next month’s meeting.

Bylaws require notifying the person under discussion in a personnel matter of such a meeting. He or she may request that the discussion be held in an open session. Otis did not attend the open meeting and did not request that the review of her performance be conducted in an open session, MacPhaille said.

Otis did not return a call to The Lens that was placed to her office.

Regarding the election of board officers, Dr. Jean Montès, Dr. Thomas Klinger and Allen Kelly were nominated for board chair and MacPhaille for treasurer.

Each nominee was invited to speak about his or her qualifications and interest in the position.

MacPhaille, the board’s current secretary, said that since finance “was her thing” she would be “well-suited” for treasurer. Her  ideas  include completing an approved budget for the upcoming academic year not later than the prior May.

Montès said that as board chairman he would work to create a “very clear plan of action so we can have the best school.” His French education and background as a professional educator, well position him to be chairman, he reasoned. He described himself as a passionate enthusiast of the Lycée Francais model.

In a brief speech, Kelly expressed similar enthusiasm for LFNO’s ambitious goals. As a founder of the school and an author of its charter, he said he understands the “tall challenges” that come with the school’s “explosive, welcome and unexpected growth.” He pledged to help make LFNO one of the city’s premier schools.

Klinger expressed gratitude for the nomination but declined to accept it then and there. He said that while he was not going to turn it down, he preferred not to speak about his interest in the position.

Members will vote on the officers at their April meeting.