ACLU wants Gibbons to open schools panel meetings

(AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons to order his newly appointed Education Reform Blue Ribbon Task Force to meet in public.

Officials say the 28-member committee co-chaired by casino executive Elaine Wynn and Nevada university Chancellor Dan Klaich met Friday in private.

ACLU official Maggie McLetchie says openness is vital on an issue like education that's important to everyone in the state.

Gibbons' spokesman Daniel Burns says Wynn asked to have the meeting closed. He says opening the meeting could make it a "circus," and that because its work is advisory and it gets no public money it doesn't need to meet in public.

The ACLU says state law requires advisory committees to open meetings and post an agenda.