The Albert Lea School Board expressed concern Monday night over the possibility of a lawsuit pertaining to the April 8 board meeting.

A recording of School Board member Linda Laurie and Albert Lea Area Schools secretary Ashley Mattson discussing personal information was reportedly leaked on Facebook as part of the recording of the meeting.

Laurie and Mattson were reportedly walking down the hall during a clinic tour, when School Board member Jill Marin’s recording of the meeting captured their conversation.

Laurie said she discovered Thursday that the conversation had been put on Facebook without her knowledge as part of Marin’s recording, noting she felt “shocked” and “violated.”

The conversation was reportedly about their children.

The portion of the meeting has since been taken down.

Marin said it was an unusual situation, because the meeting was in session when Laurie and Mattson discussed the information.

Chairman Mark Ciota said everyone has the right to know they are being recorded, noting he was disappointed the recording included a non-board member.

He said the post violated HIPAA laws, potentially opening up the district to be sued.

Laurie said the district should have legal counsel go forward with an investigation.

Board members discussed the need to have the district’s insurance provider know about the situation, and debated whether a policy or an understanding was needed to prevent the incident from reoccurring.

Marin said she did not think the board needed to set a policy on the issue.

The meeting was at times filled with tension, including in a public forum.

Parent Sonjia Hill said there is unrest in the district, noting administration seems to have mistrust in the community. She said Superintendent Mike Funk’s description of portions of the community as anti-establishment and as fringe groups has made her feel demeaned and shamed, noting his questioning members of the public is unbecoming of his position.

Long-time Albert Lea teacher Mary Jo Dorman said she disagreed with Marin’s past description of the school administration’s culture as negative. She said the district’s focus has changed for what is best for student direction, noting elementary schools have improved in reading proficiency and growth.

Albert Lea teachers and husband and wife, Riley Worth and Amanda Lester, announced they will resign in June.

Worth and Lester said the district rejected their requested two-year leave of absence to teach in the Middle East, noting they felt disappointed in what they called a dismissive and disrespectful rejection of their request.

“I just feel disappointed that our past service to the community was not taken into consideration,” Lester said.

Worth said district officials should communicate better with teachers to keep more teachers.