91原创 board of education meetings will finally be available to view online, thanks to the tenacity of trustee Megan Dykeman.
After six years of trying, Dykeman鈥檚 motion to have board of education meetings live-streamed passed on Sept. 26.
Her hope is to have the meetings go online by the end of 2017.
But before the vote, her motion met with some resistance, especially from board chair, Rob McFarlane.
He told the board he feels that live-streaming meetings can change politicians into actors who 鈥済randstand.鈥�
鈥淭his is not something I support. I am concerned for the potential temptation of grandstanding, with politicians focusing on their issues,鈥� said McFarlane.
Trustee Rod Ross also opposed it.
鈥淚 see people playing to the cameras,鈥� he said.
But Dykeman pointed out that both 91原创 City and Township have been live-streaming their meetings and it hasn鈥檛 increased grandstanding, but it has increased accountability.
鈥淲e discuss things that affect student learning. We need to show transparency. It leads to better governance. Plus, many families would want to watch online,鈥� said Dykeman before the vote.
Dykeman previously brought a motion forward in 2012, when it was shelved because a new communications director, Ken Hoff, had been hired and he was just getting his feet wet.
Hoff then launched the new look of the district鈥檚 website and the new communication plan, explained Dykeman.
鈥淏ut four years later, it is time to bring it back,鈥� she said.
Trustee David Tod supported the motion, saying it adds a new level of accountability.
鈥淚f we want to be role models in 21st century learning, this is the way of the future,鈥� Tod said.
When the trustees who opposed oppose the motion raised the issue of cost, Hoff pointed out that the equipment needed is already in place. Last month鈥檚 board meeting was live-streamed to an overflow audience upstairs in the district office.
鈥淲e had a dry run tonight,鈥� Hoff said at the September meeting. The options and work plan will be brought back to the public board meeting Oct. 24 meeting. Dykeman hopes to have live-streaming in place by November or December at the latest.
