Plum School District families soon can observe school board workshops and voting meetings from the comfort of their own home or mobile device.
The school board decided to start video recording its monthly meetings in-house.
The technology department, led by Daniel Lauletta, prepared an iPAD, microphone and tripod setup. Board Secretary Jennifer Macro operated the camera during a meeting Aug. 27 for the first taping of the 2019-20 school year.
The footage will be posted on the district’s website, YouTube channel and, eventually, broadcast through public access channels.
“We want to reach as many community members as possible so that they can see all the efforts that the board and administration are making,” Macro said.
Board members approved a policy regulating televising meetings at a special meeting Aug. 6.
“I am in favor of videotaping meetings,” school Director Steve Schlauch said. “All for transparency.”
Other board members hope to go from recordings to live broadcasts.
“I think it should be broadcast live, broadcasted on the TV channels and be recorded and saved for at least a year,” board member Richard Zucco said.
Superintendent Brendan Hyland said he supports the board’s decision to tape meetings.
He also noted the agendas, contracts and related documents posted through pbsd.net.
“If you compare our district to other districts, we’re more transparent than most districts,” Hyland said. “We go above and beyond in terms of transparency.”
High school television production class students recorded board meetings for about a decade under the direction of teacher Rick Berrott. That stopped this past school year as teacher contract negotiations heated up.
The board approved a six-year contract with the teachers union in April.
The new school year just started. It’s unclear if students would resume filming the board.
“I think it’s a good experience for the kids and we have the technology,” Zucco said.
