Not many people are extolling the benefits of the coronavirus pandemic. But a few weeks ago, I stood before the Storm Lake Kiwanis Club and spoke about government transparency in Iowa.
I did not participate in the debate over masks, social distancing, and vaccinations. Although I was a polite audience, I was not foolish enough to step onto that thin ice unnecessarily.
Here's what I said about the pandemic: State and local governments have embraced, albeit reluctantly, the benefits of live-streaming board meetings for the public to watch from anywhere during the pandemic.
When the coronavirus shuttered government buildings and shut down most in-person gatherings, Iowa cities, counties, school districts, and state agencies purchased video cameras and other technology to use Zoom, We have made it possible to hold meetings using Facebook, YouTube or similar internet sources. Or a smartphone application.
The benefits of these “virtual” meetings quickly became apparent. With more Iowans getting sick or dying each week from the coronavirus, many feared for their safety. Gov. Kim Reynolds' emergency order directed officials to provide a way for the public to observe these meetings from a distance to protect public health, but there were also unintended benefits. In other words, the meeting was open to more people than the normal attendees.
The pandemic may have passed. But live streaming of government board meetings should not be a thing of the past. Still, the Iowa Board of Education decided last week to do away with livestreaming its meetings, making it clear that its priorities are in the wrong place.
The way the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows school board's decision is viewed is terrible. This short-sighted decision distresses residents in the district and may lead other Iowans to pressure their local elected officials to livestream their meetings if they are not already doing so. Must.
Clarion Goldfield Dowse's decision should also worry members of Congress and Governor Reynolds. Because at its core, this decision shows that school leaders want to keep as few people as possible looking at board and school business, whether or not local property taxes are involved. be. , school curriculum, book selection, or any other topic.
For more than 50 years, the public has been able to attend City Council, School Board, and County Supervisor meetings. Most people never do. Some people may have little interest in the decisions currently being made, but other factors may be at play. Parenting conflicts, health problems, or disabilities may keep some people away from childcare. There may be a lack of transportation. They may be at work or out of town when the meeting is held.
Live streaming past meetings and storing them in an online archive provides a great alternative for more people to monitor what their local board is discussing and deciding.
Here is an example. Three years ago, the Grundy County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on a proposed wind turbine ordinance. The governor has lifted the emergency order and the board has decided to stop holding meetings online.
But the Grundy Center newspaper stepped in and livestreamed the hearing, then posted the entire video online. More than 200 people were able to “attend” the public hearing this way and hear comments for and against the ordinance without having to drive to the Grundy Center courthouse.
Grundy County supervisors offered no justification for ending live streaming other than it being an inconvenience and not required by Iowa law. Making meetings more accessible to the public meant nothing to supervisors.
The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows school board offered a similar justification for ending live streaming of its meetings. However, it is worth noting that the district will continue to livestream athletic events.
School board members said if people really want to know what is being discussed at school board meetings, they can adjust their schedules and attend the meeting in person.One more detail worth mentioning: School board meetings begin at 4:30 p.m.
Another school board member said that ending a livestream would take away school board critics' ability to record the feed and later edit members' comments to embarrass them or take their statements out of context. He said it would happen.
Such logic is troubling. Although Iowa's open meetings law does not mandate live streaming of government board meetings, the spirit of the law clearly suggests that openness and transparency should be the norm, so that people Be able to better understand the basis and rationale for decisions made by government boards.
Many of Iowa's 325 public school districts are under the watchful eye of parents, taxpayers, and the Iowa Legislature. These people believe there has been insufficient transparency from the school's leadership and its governing board.
Live streaming these meetings is not about cost. Video cameras, microphones and related technology have already been installed in the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows area. No additional employees are required to operate the camera during a meeting.
District administrators should be commended for holding events for students so that parents, grandparents, and others who cannot attend the games can watch from home. What they don't understand is that school districts aren't doing the same to make school board meetings more convenient for people to view school board meetings where important issues are discussed and decided. That would send an embarrassing signal.
If the Clarion-Goldfield Dows board does not reverse its policy and other holding municipalities do not begin offering remote access to meetings, Congress will likely step in and require the government's board to It would be necessary to amend the Act of Parliament to allow participation. The general public can watch remotely without having to be physically present.
