Editorial

Welcoming Openness At LBUSD

(August 22, 2006) -- We are pleased to report that the LB Unified School District's website now not only includes tonight's Board of Education's agenda (a list of items unintelligible by themselves) but this week includes backup material (details of the items, motions, etc.)

This is a major improvement and a real public service. Whether the District's website enhancement was already in progress or reflects the election of new Boardmembers Barton and Ellis (or pressure from the teachers' union's website) isn't the point. Kudos are in order.

On tonight's School Board agenda are two extraordinarily important items...and these are both undeniably the result of the election of Barton and Ellis. The items came directly from them and sound themes that resonated with voters. The items are basically modest and deserve 5-0 board support tonight.

Dr. Barton's item only seeks information. It directs the Superintendent to present Boardmembers at least three options for televising School Board meetings on TV and the internet, including possible costs and ideas to offset any such costs.

LBReport.com has been an unabashed advocate of televising School Board meetings since 2002. Televising those meetings is something a well-run District should welcome, not fear.

The Board currently spends money to record, produce (including announcers and video effects) televised high school football and basketball games using LBUSD's cable TV channel and taxpayer-paid staff and equipment. We won't argue the multiple merits of televising Board meetings here because the only issue tonight is whether to get information on options (and Board meetings hopefully won't involve announcers or video effects).

Dr. Barton's item is right on. We hope the School Board's immediate past president (now 2nd district Councilwoman) Suja Lowenthal -- who indicated during her School Board tenure that she supported televising Board meetings -- communicates her support for this item in time for tonight's meeting.

Boardmember Ellis' item is likewise very important in providing public information. It asks the Superintendent to direct staff to prepare a plan to place prominently on LBUSD's website all agenda, agenda enclosures and supporting materials and Board meeting minutes (back to Jan. 2006); all budget documents submitted to County, state or federal agencies; and information relative to currently active cases involving the District now pending in CA courts or agencies (not including students' names).

As indicated above, part of this item may already have been put in place by LBUSD's administration; with a can-do attitude, making public information internet accessible to the public shouldn't be hard to accommodate.

The public owes Boardmembers Barton and Ellis a debt of gratitude for agendizing these items. The School Board will likewise deserve credit in advancing them tonight.