The Blaine County School District board of trustees has given Trustee Paul Bates the green light he wanted to further research the possibility of monthly school board meetings being broadcast live via the Internet.
Bates, who was elected earlier this year, provided preliminary information on live webcasts at Tuesday's board meeting.
"I've talked to a lot of people and there seems to be a very positive feeling about putting these board meetings live as a webcast," said Bates, who campaigned this spring on a platform of more public involvement in school board decisions. "I think it would provide great outreach to the public in general."
Bates pointed out that many parents are unable to attend school board meetings because they're taking care of their children and that driving to Hailey from other parts of the county can be difficult during the winter.
"I suppose there are a lot of people who would be more involved if the board meetings would come to them," he said. "I've talked to maybe a hundred people and I've been told nothing but 'that would be neat.'"
Bates is working with Internet journalist Gary Stivers, who told the board that initial setup costs would be about $8,000. However, Stivers said that unless the district is willing to pay additional costs, server size would be restricted to about 100 viewers.
Trustee Mari Beth Matthews was somewhat skeptical of the idea.
"We have to be stewards of the taxpayers' money," Matthews said. "We just passed a levy and we're under a lot of scrutiny. For us to spend $8,000 so people can look at me is kind of hard to swallow."
Trustee Steve Guthrie, who was also elected this year and campaigned for more public involvement, said Bates has a good idea but he hoped that live webcasts wouldn't keep the public from actual attendance at school board meetings. Public attendance has increased during the last several months and Guthrie said he would like to see that continue.
Also, public comment at board meetings has increased during the past several months.
"I feel a real sense that this board wants to hear from the public, and I feel really good about that," said district patron Liz Schwerdtle, who has often been critical in the past of school district policy.
District patron Mary Ellen O'Leary said she is concerned that security measures at schools—particularly armed guards, lockdown procedures and security cameras—are causing psychological stress to students and are increasing the likelihood of violence.
She suggested that security measures be counterbalanced with "more teaching in the district on how to handle stress."
Superintendent Lonnie Barber said he will evaluate O'Leary's concerns.
"We don't want to scare them," Barber said. "We want to get them ready for the worst possible scenario."
Blaine County Commission Chairman Larry Schoen talked about the passage in October of a 10-year, $59.8 million school plant facilities levy.
"I'd like to congratulate the district on successful passage of the levy," Schoen said. "You managed to pass a levy that most people said couldn't be done."
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Paul Bates
