Sun coverage of school meeting lacking
The newspaper got it wrong. The compromise motion by School Committeeman Dave Conway to open the superintendent interviews to the public was not about to fail, as today’s article asserts, but would have passed 4-3 with support from committee members Connie Martin, Dave Conway, Mayor Caulfield and myself. I was in the process of asking to amend the motion to ensure applicant confidentiality until they are interviewed and to have the interviews televised—when information regarding the Open Meeting Law came to light.
Speaking of television, today’s paper also makes no mention of last night’s lengthy discussion regarding broadcasting LHS subcommittee meetings, an issue that speaks to members’ true commitment to transparent government. The motion to broadcast LHS subcommittee meetings ultimately passed on a 4-3 vote with members Dave Conway, Regina Faticanti and Mayor Caulfield voting against. (Based on their comments last night, they apparently felt the cost of about $2,000 a year to televise the meetings was too high a price for transparency.) It was a long meeting and perhaps it’s unfair to expect the newspaper to cover every motion (which is why the superintendent interviews should be televised). Fortunately, with today’s technology and bloggers (LiL also wrote about the meeting), we don’t have to rely on one source for the news. Check LTC’s website for a streaming video of the meeting (not up yet) and see for yourself.