School board sets media rules

[Rosie]

Breckenridge school district sets rules for media

This may seem minor to many of you, but the district refusing microphones on the table, to me, is inexcusable.

Edit: I should add the three-hour rule is, in my eyes, a COMPLETE AND TOTAL violation of Minnesota's open meeting laws. I have NEVER in all my years covering government meetings in this state ever gave notice to a school board, city council or county board that I would be covering the meeting.

 

[Ace]

That's bull. You need to get in their face about that.

 

[Rosie]

If it were in my coverage area, I would be making their lives so miserable it wouldn't be funny.

 

[Seahawk]

That's pure crap on the part of the school district.

 

[OTD]

They might be able to get away with the microphone deal, but three-hour notice on an open meeting? Utter bull****. It looks like that Fargo TV station's getting their lawyer on it, and that problem oughta be solved pretty quickly.

 

[Stitch]

They might be able to get away with the microphone deal, but three-hour notice on an open meeting? Utter bull****. It looks like that Fargo TV station's getting their lawyer on it, and that problem oughta be solved pretty quickly.

The Wahpeton Daily News doesn't have anything. I guess that paper doesn't like to report "bad news".

 

[Ace]

That's pure crap on the part of the school district.

I would get every TV station and reporter and blogger who covers the school board to bring a couple microphones and all put them on their desk the very next meeting.

 

[RedHotChiliPrepper]

Or, instead of acting vindictive, you could ask for a sit-down with the Superintendent to discuss the situation, and maybe work it out like adults. Then, if that doesn't work, and it is illegal, you can have your paper contact their lawyer.

 

[Starman]

Or, instead of acting vindictive, you could ask for a sit-down with the Superintendent to discuss the situation, and maybe work it out like adults. Then, if that doesn't work, and it is illegal, you can have your paper contact their lawyer.

There is nothing to discuss. The school district is 100.00000 percent in the wrong.

 

[Clerk Typist]

You go to your lawyers and let them start the legal process rolling, then go to the meeting, with microphone.

 

[Rosie]

I do have a bit of background from a discussion with a reporter who has covered Breckenridge School District.

There is no discussion with the superindendent. From the way it was explained to me, it's like a little fiefdom and they do not cooperate with the media - print or broadcast - in any way shape or form. This is what I was told - it's second-hand.

 

[Ace]

Or, instead of acting vindictive, you could ask for a sit-down with the Superintendent to discuss the situation, and maybe work it out like adults. Then, if that doesn't work, and it is illegal, you can have your paper contact their lawyer.

Geez. You're no fun.

I love how people set "rules" for the media as if we are supposed to abide by whatever rules they set.

Some schools, for example, may go crazy if you try to interview a student on campus without getting some form signed.

College teams may come down on you if you try to contact a player or his family without going through the SID. Businesses may prohibit you from talking to customers or employees.

What they don't realize is that we only need to follow these rules if we choose to. Not because they say so.

In this particular case, school board meeting are open and public and the public should be able to hear what these folks are saying. If that means putting a microphone up near the front, they have to live with that or resign their positions.

 

[albert77]

Or, instead of acting vindictive, you could ask for a sit-down with the Superintendent to discuss the situation, and maybe work it out like adults. Then, if that doesn't work, and it is illegal, you can have your paper contact their lawyer.

Geez. You're no fun.

I love how people set "rules" for the media as if we are supposed to abide by whatever rules they set.

Some schools, for example, may go crazy if you try to interview a student on campus without getting some form signed.

College teams may come down on you if you try to contact a player or his family without going through the SID. Businesses may prohibit you from talking to customers or employees.

What they don't realize is that we only need to follow these rules if we choose to. Not because they say so.

In this particular case, school board meeting are open and public and the public should be able to hear what these folks are saying. If that means putting a microphone up near the front, they have to live with that or resign their positions.

Ace, I beg to differ with you in one area. Businesses can and will prohibit you from talking to their customers and/or employees while you are on their premises, if they so choose. When you step through their doors, you are on private property and you are subject to their rules and guidelines.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I don't know if they are violating the law now, but the first time a member of the public or media attends a meeting and can't hear the vote and/or disccussion it is a violation.
I had a simliar situation with some local commission meetings. I had register a complaint with the city attorney.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/openmtg.pdf
Page 6.. first two sentences.

 

[93Devil]

The School Board has some dirty ****ing hands to think up this rule.

But reporters have no business on school grounds trying to interview students. Once they cross the street, they are fair game, but stay off the grounds.

****, go to the f'ing mall. I'm sure a good number are there 30 minutes after school lets out.

 

[Gesundheit]

The School Board has some dirty ****ing hands to think up this rule.

But reporters have no business on school grounds trying to interview students. Once they cross the street, they are fair game, but stay off the grounds.

****, go to the f'ing mall. I'm sure a good number are there 30 minutes after school lets out.

If it's like our local mall, then make sure you get permission first.

 

[Ace]

Or, instead of acting vindictive, you could ask for a sit-down with the Superintendent to discuss the situation, and maybe work it out like adults. Then, if that doesn't work, and it is illegal, you can have your paper contact their lawyer.

Geez. You're no fun.

I love how people set "rules" for the media as if we are supposed to abide by whatever rules they set.

Some schools, for example, may go crazy if you try to interview a student on campus without getting some form signed.

College teams may come down on you if you try to contact a player or his family without going through the SID. Businesses may prohibit you from talking to customers or employees.

What they don't realize is that we only need to follow these rules if we choose to. Not because they say so.

In this particular case, school board meeting are open and public and the public should be able to hear what these folks are saying. If that means putting a microphone up near the front, they have to live with that or resign their positions.

Ace, I beg to differ with you in one area. Businesses can and will prohibit you from talking to their customers and/or employees while you are on their premises, if they so choose. When you step through their doors, you are on private property and you are subject to their rules and guidelines.

True, but that doesn't mean you have to slink away. You can always interview employees or customers when they walk out or via phone or whatever. The store/business will get just as mad and act as if you are somehow being unfair.

 

[Ace]

The School Board has some dirty ****ing hands to think up this rule.

But reporters have no business on school grounds trying to interview students. Once they cross the street, they are fair game, but stay off the grounds.

****, go to the f'ing mall. I'm sure a good number are there 30 minutes after school lets out.

Some school districts have a wide interpretation of school grounds and have gotten wacked out over interviewing athletes at practice.

Others have parents sign a blanket permission form in case their photo gets taken or whatever before the year.

Of course no reporter should be sneaking in a school talking to kids without permission during school hours.

 

[93Devil]

The School Board has some dirty ****ing hands to think up this rule.

But reporters have no business on school grounds trying to interview students. Once they cross the street, they are fair game, but stay off the grounds.

****, go to the f'ing mall. I'm sure a good number are there 30 minutes after school lets out.

Some school districts have a wide interpretation of school grounds and have gotten wacked out over interviewing athletes at practice.

Others have parents sign a blanket permission form in case their photo gets taken or whatever before the year.

Of course no reporter should be sneaking in a school talking to kids without permission during school hours.

The reason for the photo permission is for the one kid in 500 whose mother or father are hiding from a person who has hurt the child or the parent in the past.

 

[SixToe]

In my early days years ago, we simply drove on campus to the field house or gymnasium and sauntered in to talk with the coaches for what might have been 30 minutes or two hours.

This typically was during the school day. If a kid or two was needed, he would call and get them out of class or I'd time my visit for the after-school practice. Most coaches were gracious to allow a few minutes during practice if necessary. Only a few declined, which was fine.

When schools went into lockdown and visitor's logs it helped to diminish opportunities to build relationships. There's a lot to be said for shooting the bull with coaches during a 4th period gym class when he's watching kids play volleyball, which can't be done as well three hours later when he's coaching his team on the practice field.