The Southmoreland School Board is reviewing a policy that would end the livestream of its meetings in favor of posting a video recording after the meeting’s conclusion.

The move comes a month after School Director Catherine Fike, a retired school psychologist, disclosed confidential information about a student’s mental health status during the public comment period of the board’s Sept. 16 meeting.

Fike’s comments were removed from the meeting recording.

The board’s livestream policy will be under review for 30 days.

Board President Duane Frund, Vice President Stephanie Geyer and directors John Eutsey, Richard Grabiak, Brian Shipley and Scott Olsen voted to submit the policy for 30-day review.

Board members Fike and Samuel Accipiter voted against it. Board member Nicole O’Rear was absent.

A draft of the policy states that meetings will be recorded and that “the district will review the meeting recording to ensure compliance with all applicable district policies and federal and state regulations.”

The recording will be posted on the district’s YouTube page within 24 hours following the conclusion of the meeting, the draft policy says.

It will remain online until the official meeting minutes are posted.

“The video recording of any public board meeting is not considered the official record of the meeting and is not a public record available for inspection or copying,” the draft policy says.

Accipiter questioned what the district’s process would be for reviewing the meeting recording. Fike suggested this be added to the policy.

District Solicitor Russell Lucas said he could add a line to the policy indicating that “the superintendent/designee will consult with the solicitor and/or the board if any editing or other correction action is necessary and appropriate.”

The board’s meeting minutes will continue to be approved by the board, Lucas said.

Superintendent Jason Boone said he reached out to the other 16 school districts in Westmoreland County regarding their livestreaming practices.

Only one other district in the county has a livestream policy.

Greensburg Salem approved a policy in March, reducing livestreaming only to their voting meetings.

The board also voted to host a formal hearing at 8 p.m. Oct. 23 regarding Fike’s role as the board’s representative for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit. Fike can choose whether this is a public or private meeting, but a decision was not reached by the end of the board meeting Tuesday.

The board voted 7-1 at a special meeting Sept. 23 to remove Fike from this position.

Fike sent a letter to Boone and the school board on Oct. 10 arguing that she was denied due process in the decision.

Fike did not formally cancel the Oct. 23 hearing, but she argued the hearing should have been held before she was removed from the position.

“The issue of due process is moot,” she said. “You can’t have a retroactive due process after you’ve already taken action.”

Lucas said the retroactive hearing aligns with regulations.

“I will inform the board that my legal opinion is that this is a proper, lawful and orderly way to proceed in accordance with the objection that you raised,” he said.

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