EVERETT — The Everett School Board could air its meetings online or even on television if a newcomer has her way.
Jessica Olson, who was elected in November on a crusade for open government, hopes to convince her colleagues to broadcast their meetings perhaps on You Tube or on public-access TV.
Olson made the suggestion Friday during a daylong special school board meeting that focused on the way the five-member board operates. The meeting was a workshop where policy matters couldn’t be decided.
Afterward she said she is trying to make good on a campaign pledge to make school district decisions more transparent.
During her race against incumbent Karen Madsen, Olson said the school district and school board had taken too many actions “behind a cloak of secrecy.”
She criticized the district for secretly recording a teacher in her classroom, piling up more than $200,000 in lawyer fees related to legal battles over student newspapers and hiring a new superintendent without giving the community a chance to comment on any finalists.
Broadcasting meetings would give local residents more opportunity to see how the school board operates for the district with more than 18,000 students, she said. The district has a $188 million operations budget.
“It provides greater access to the community and for the people who can’t make it to the meeting,” Olson said.
Board President Ed Petersen said he would be open to broadcasting meetings if it isn’t too costly.
“I think it would be worth looking at,” Petersen said afterward.
Superintendent Gary Cohn said it could be a discussion item for a future school board meeting. Cost could be a major concern in a tough budget year, he said.
Cohn said the district already is taking several other steps to give residents greater access.
Among other things, Cohn said, a revamped district Web site could post the complete school board packet of agenda items before each meeting for anyone to review. The district also is exploring ways to get the information translated into other languages, such as Spanish and Russian.
Olson raised other access issues during and after Friday’s workshop.
She wants the board to let her include her cell phone number and personal e-mail on the district’s Web site so constituents can contact her directly.
Olson said she also wants to ask the school board to have the Washington Coalition for Open Government speak to the board. The coalition is a nonprofit group that represents the public in matters where open government and public record issues are raised.
Olson said she understands that the board has a legal and fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers to be careful with the information it provides. At the same time, she said, it would be good for the board to hear from the perspective of people who are requesting public documents.
“I just think we need a balance of different perspectives,” she said.
Olson is a member of the Washington Coalition for Open Government. As the mother of an autistic son who had been enrolled in the district, Olson has filed frequent public information requests to make sure his rights are enforced. Some of her requests have ended up in court.
Olson and Everett pastor Jeff Russell were both elected last fall and sworn into office in December. Both said they considered Friday’s session helpful.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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