Majority of Summit Board of Ed Would Like Meetings Televised

The majority of Summit Board of Education members would like to see board meetings televised it was determined by a show of hands at Thursday's workshop meeting. 

Communications Committee Chair Katherine Kalin said the possibility of televising board meetings had been discussed within the committee earlier that evening. A Summit father raised the issue at an October meeting and was told the committee would look into it. Kalin said while there were many "compelling pros" for pursuing it, such as engaging a much broader audience, cons include a possible change in dynamic as speakers might "play to the audience." 

Kalin said if the majority of the board was "philosophically aligned" with the idea, the committee would then assess the implementation process and determine the possible cost as well as how it would be technically feasible given that the meetings rotate among schools within the district.

Kalin suggested "taking the pulse" of the Board before tying up time with an assessment if, ultimately, Board members were not in favor of the idea.

While the majority of the Board would like to move ahead, President Gloria Ron-Fornes was against it, while James Freeman, who frequently appears on television in his role as assistant editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page, said he would abstain.

Members asked how it might impact having students present or perform before the board if some did not have parental permission to appear on television. It was suggested that televising the meetings could be begin following those presentations or have cameras focused only on board members.

Lisa Hartman, a member of the PTO Presidents Council, volunteered to assist the committee in investigating all options. Kalin thanked Hartman for her willingness to undertake the project.