How Do you Make an Emperor Talk?

Answer: By the book

OK. It's not anywhere near the standard criteria for a joke, but thanks to the emailer who sent this link to the public records access board policy. It even has the handy-dandy request form attached. We can lift up the rock that the Emperor seems to like to hide under.

I came across the following, which brought to mind some interesting questions.

http://www.mv.org/files/70807/Microsoft%20Word%20-%206704%20APPR%203-29-06.pdf

Public records policy

“The Board recognizes that individual Board members have no right greater than that of the general public to obtain public information from the District. The possibility exists that a Board member may need information for research that is not relevant to current Board business. Understanding that Board members must respect the time constraints of District staff, the information will be distributed to the Board member within three (3) business days. All other Board members will be notified of the request and distribution and may request that copies be provided to then entire Board.”

It seems that, from time to time, Mr. Hellmann has gathered information and the rest of the board is not aware that he has done so. Is it possible that the administrative office is not, or has been directed to not, provide the rest of the board with notification when he requests public information under this policy?

Further, I read the following:

“All audio and video tapes of public Board meetings will be destroyed in August each year, prior to the start of the next academic year, upon approval of the minutes for the last Board meeting in the previous academic year.”

I was unaware of this portion of the policy. I can understand the need to conserve storage space by not having volumes of audio and video. However, I would think that, as part of the public record, these should be kept for a minimum of 7 years. Further, with today’s technology, they could easily be digitized and stored on the districts computer storage for little or no cost (as well as be available for distribution at no cost). Has anyone considered this? Is anyone concerned with the loss of nuanced public records that have not been fully transcribed ?