Transparency Watch: School Board Puts Media Policy into Writing

After much discussion, Albany's approved a policy in early August to protect board members’ ability to speak to the media.

The district has at times , with some members of the public advocating for more information than has been readily available.

The press protocol is part of a new handbook the board has been developing since January to give members guidelines on governance. But its adoption stalled in April when Board Member raised concerns about the press protocol and its restrictive language.

The proposed policy directed members to turn all media inquiries over to the superintendent for comment.

“I’m used to talking with the press when I have an opinion, and I will continue to do that,” Rosenbaum told the board at April’s school board meeting, according to a video of the April 5 event posted here.

Board President , who led efforts in drafting the new handbook, agreed with Rosenbaum, and instructed Superintendent to expand the language of the protocol to reflect the board's standard practice of speaking to the press on matters related to board policy and decisions.

As the result of both board pressure to give its members more freedom to speak, and an email from Albany Patch regarding district transparency, the school board adopted new governance handbook language on Aug. 2 to give members more leeway in choosing how to answer reporters’ questions. 

Albany Patch communicated with board members, all of whom said they always answer media inquiries and express their views regarding board policies. They said they do refer questions involving administrative matters, such as personnel issues or operational matters, to the superintendent.

Low, along with members and , attended the Aug. 2 meeting. Low said Rosenbaum and were away on vacation.

During the Aug. 2 discussion, Superintendent Stephenson, who had been charged with revising the protocol, asked the board to weigh in on the new language she had drafted.

The prior protocol formerly included a single line: "Board members should refer all members of the press to the Superintendent." 

She clarified after the meeting that she saw this as particularly important during emergencies, when having a single spokesperson would minimize confusion and facilitate accurate information being shared with families.

During the Aug. 2 meeting, Stephenson added a second bullet point to the protocol: "Should a Board member choose to comment in response to a question from the press, the Board member will preface the comment with, ‘I am speaking as an individual not for the Board of Education. My comments are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of other Board members or the Albany Unified School District.'"

But an email from Albany Patch, which was read into the record by Board Member Paul Black, prompted further discussion. The email emphasized the need for transparency, and argued that having a board that is empowered to speak to the media would play a crucial role in keeping the public informed.

It also warned that giving a single person the power to speak for the entire district has the potential to undermine the transparency the district has said it hopes to promote. (In fact, the superintendent is hired by the board and works at its discretion.)

During the discussion, Stephenson said she didn't think more language needed to be added to her proposed revision.

“Sometimes you can paint yourself into a corner by adding too much language into an operation manual,” she explained in an email to Albany Patch.  

The board, however, agreed it was important to spell out the policy and create a reference for future board members.

Members unanimously approved the amendment brought forth by Superintendent Stephenson. In response to Albany Patch’s email, they also hammered out an additional bullet point that says, if the board has made a decision about an issue or a policy, it is acceptable to state what the board’s position is to members of the press.

“I greatly support transparency over too much confidentiality in informing the public of Board of Education issues," said Board Member Allan Maris in an email to Albany Patch.

Maris has frequently spoken out in board meetings about the need to get information to board members and the public in a timely manner, to allow for adequate consideration of issues that can often be complex.

Despite challenges with staffing and technology, the district has made strides toward making information more readily available, including reorganizing its website and posting minutes and reports from board meetings more regularly.

According to Brittany McKannay, spokeswoman for the California School Boards Association, press protocols vary by district. Some districts, she said, appoint the superintendent as the sole spokesperson for the board. Others appoint the board president or give all board members the freedom to speak.

“Everyone doesn’t have to follow the same method. In general, we encourage districts to come up with their own policies so they can base decisions off of the needs of their own community,” said McKannay.

The Aug. 2 amendments to the press protocol formalized the adoption of the new governance handbook, which only applies to members of the board. Low said the norms and protocols contained in the handbook would be reviewed every year and updated as necessary.

As far as how the new policy will change how she responds to media requests, Low said in an email to Albany Patch, it “will probably just make my answers a little more longwinded than usual.”

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, give editor Emilie Raguso a call at 510-459-8325 or shoot her an email at emilier@patch.com.