You can say what you will about Butler School Board member Bill Halle, his contentious style and his obvious desire to be current on all board business — whether or not he’s on a particular committee.

According to board President Don Pringle, Halle has maligned the character of the board and of himself by questioning the board leadership and making accusations of wrongdoing.

Pringle said specifically that Halle, in a letter last month to board members, alleged the board violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act when board members and the administrative staff twice met privately with contractor Thomas & Williamson, which is conducting a facilities study for the district.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, which was lengthy and sometimes acrimonious, Pringle said he’s given Halle several committee leadership roles, and yet Halle still is apt to question leadership roles on the board.

“He has not supported me,” Pringle said of Halle. “There is no conspiracy. Everywhere you go, there seems to be a conspiracy …. I’m am very unsure who Mr. Halle is.”

Pringle said Halle has consistently questioned board procedure, members and leadership.

“What new facet will you attack?” Pringle asked.

But the fact of the matter is that, this time, Halle is right.

Board solicitor Tom King agreed the board violated the Sunshine Right-To-Know Law when board members and administrators met in November and December with Thomas & williamson.

King determined that because the meetings were with multiple board members, subsequent meetings must be advertised and open to the public. And board members Tuesday approved the paperwork reviewed from those two meetings to be open to the public. The action was taken “to cure the fact that (the meetings) weren’t advertised,” King said.

King characterized the violations as “an inadvertent mistake” — an admission of error from the attorney tasked with steering the board away from such legal and procedural hazards.

Inadvertent or intentional, the violation would not have come to light if Halle hadn’t taken issue — if the public is not informed about a public meeting, how would the public even know it had missed it? And a violation of the Sunshine Right-To-Know law is no small matter. Being a little in violation is the same as being a little pregnant: a violation is a violation.

Halle may indeed be a pest in the eyes of Pringle and other board members, and even the public. But in this instance, Halle performed a vital service for the public he represents. He has our gratitude.