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Cameras roll, DESPITE policy

Citizen balks at restriction

By D. Frank Smith

dfsmith@c-dh.net

PULASKI - Despite a new school board policy barring the filming of meetings without prior authorization, one resident recorded Thursday’s board proceedings without reprimand.

The policy allows the press and individuals to film the meeting only with the consent of the board. But at Thursday’s Giles County School Board meeting, resident Allen Barrett kept his camera rolling.

At the outset of the meeting, a motion was made by Chairman Kathy Norman to grant Barrett permission to film but discussion was sidetracked and the motion was never voted on.

Board Member Jim Greene said the board allowed Barrett to keep recordings even though it was within their rights to stop him.

“If we were going to be strict about it, we could have had him shut it off,” Greene said. “We’ve given him the courtesy to keep recording.”

The new policy manual requires public comment and video recordings to have board consent. The manual was approved by the board earlier this month after being reviewed by the Tennessee School Board Association.

Green said no policy manual would be perfect, and this may need some clarification. He said the camera and public comment policies were in place just in case.

“It gives the board an option to exercise if they need to control the meeting,” he said.

Board Member Beverly Murrey made a motion to suspend the public comment and video consent portions of the policy until further review could be done, but her motion failed for lack of a second.

Norman said the policy was not instituted to block “genuine documentation” of meetings, but was done to prohibit potential disruptions. When asked who would make the distinction between the two, Norman said she couldn’t answer because the meeting had adjourned. “I can’t speak as an official school board member outside the meeting,” she said.

Giles County Commissioner Robert E. Lee, Jr., called the policy ridiculous. “People should be able to have their say,” he said. “You’re at the mercy of the people running the show.”

Though the board has no concerned citizens portion on its agenda, Barrett addressed its members throughout the meeting.

“Why is it so difficult to allow the public to speak and address this board that the public is paying the salary for?” Barrett asked, but was not answered by the board.

Barrett, the pastor of a local church, films the board meetings each month and posts them online to his blog. He said he records them so others can view the meetings without attending and to keep public officials accountable for their actions.

He said he believed his First Amendment rights were being squelched and that the policy was formed to prohibit him specifically from recording the meetings.

“They’ve approved a policy they can follow whenever they feel it’s convenient, and for me I’m always inconvenient,” he said.

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Article From The Daily Herald Newspaper

Candid camera

Giles man claims school board policy infringes rights

By SKYLER SWISHER/sswisher@c-dh.net

PULASKI — A Giles County blogger said Wednesday his First Amendment rights are being squelched by a policy that bars unapproved cameras from school board meetings.
Allen Barrett says the policy is directed solely at him in response to articles and videos on Giles Free Speech Zone, an Internet website that has been critical of the Giles County School Board.
“They are trying to stop news from being disseminated to the community,” he said.

The policy, which took effect Tuesday, states “the press or individuals shall not bring a camera, camcorder or photographic equipment to board meetings without consent of the board.”
The board made provisions to allow the local print media to take photographs during the meeting and for a public-access television channel operated by Pulaski Electric Service to film proceedings.
Kathy Norman, chair of the school board, said the policy is in place to prevent disruptions and would not apply to parents photographing their children receiving awards or other honors during a meeting.
“It’s in place in case something inappropriate should happen or want to be done,” she said.

The policy does not stipulate how consent should be given for a camera to be used. It also includes no exception for photography by parents.
Director of Schools Tee Jackson said the policy was not directed toward any single person. He said the board was updating its policy manual and received legal advice from the Tennessee School Boards Association.
“We make sure we meet all the necessary standards and laws,” he said.
A spokesman with the Tennessee School Board Association could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Barrett said he is the only person who films the school board’s meetings. He has posted several of the clips on YouTube, an Internet website that allows users to post videos.
“Clearly, what they are doing is they are trying to stifle public communications,” Barrett said.

One of those videos showed an argument between Barrett and Nashville attorney Charles Cagle, who was representing the Giles County School Board. That video led to allegations of assault because of an alleged push to Barrett’s chest.

Story created Jul 03, 2008 - 16:13:41 EDT.