The state attorney general's office has ordered the Clayton County school board to respond to allegations that it illegally closed meetings.

"These are very serious allegations which, if true, could be both civil and criminal violations of the law, calling into question the underlying validity of numerous actions by the board," Senior Assistant Attorney General Stefan Ritter wrote Tuesday.

The board must respond in writing by May 9, according to Ritter's letter to board attorney Dorsey Hopson and acting Chairwoman Michelle Strong.

The request follows a complaint last week from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, alleging that the board met illegally behind closed doors, including with officials from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and state board of education.

"We are glad the attorney general's office is taking the matter seriously and asking the board to respond promptly," said Thomas Clyde, an attorney for the Journal-Constitution. "The stakes are too high to let the board continue its illegal conduct."

Hopson and Strong did not return two messages each Tuesday.

In addition to the Journal-Constitution's complaint, the attorney general's office found violations of the state open meetings law after reviewing the school district's Web site.

Board meeting agendas and minutes posted online do not include sworn affidavits, as required by law, stating the reason for closing the meetings, the letter reads.

The attorney general also objected to the board conducting all of its business behind closed doors, which has occurred several times in the past few months.

The accrediting association cited the board for open- meetings violations, among other ethics violations.

The district has until Sept. 1 to meet nine mandates from SACS or lose accreditation.