The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
The School Board's finance committee canceled its meeting Tuesday on the next proposed budget rather than allow a Virginian-Pilot reporter access as required by the state's freedom of information law.
Superintendent David Stuckwisch said the committee did not want the newspaper's coverage of the meeting to pre-empt presentation of the draft budget to the full board at its meeting Thursday.
The board is likely to face difficult choices in balancing its next budget. Higher pension contributions and other costs could create a gap of more than $10 million between revenue and spending, Assistant Superintendent for Budget and Finance Dan Pendarvis told the board late last year.
On Tuesday, a Pilot reporter was told that the session could be closed to the public because fewer than three board members would be present. School Board Chairman James Bridgeford and member James Hewitt are on the committee.
The reporter objected and was invited by division spokeswoman Maureen Mizelle to confer with Senior Deputy City Attorney George Willson. Willson agreed that the committee was a public body required by state law to hold public meetings.
After Willson told the committee it had to meet in public, the group decided instead to abandon its scheduled meeting, Stuckwisch said.
Steven G. Vegh, (757) 446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com
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Good Reason
Portsmouth Public Schools have a good reason for not wanting Pilot reporters in their discussions. The Pilot education reports are traditionally designed around finding as much negativity as possible. A comparison of this article and the one about the robotics competition held in Portsmouth is a prime example of the constant slant towards the negative. The one that is actually about education and students gets 2 pictures and a 2 line caption. It was really impressive what the students did at that competition, but as you can see little or no importance is placed there by the Pilot report. It is a shame that throughout most of the discussion of school issues, little or no emphasis is actually placed on what really matters. The STUDENTS.
give them a chance
With the Governor unveiling his educational budget only a few days ago, I believe that the school system would like an opportunity to review ALL OPTIONS that might be created rather than have every possible move publicized and scrutinized before they have a chance to digest numbers and discuss possibilities. They will not be settling a final budget at this meeting as the process calls for public hearings.
No, its not
I am of the mentality that the media deserves to know about these decisions AFTER they have been made. The story is going to get out there either way - who's to say the school board came to an impasse' during this meeting. Id be willing to bet VP would cast a negative spin on it and cause more trouble in the court of public opinion long before all is said and done.
The schools are in a tough spot - They keep personnel and pursue improvement projects, the media says they are squandering money.
They make tough choices and furlough, layoff, cut staff or programs due to budget restraints - then its 'what about the children'?
They are in a tough spot and have tough decisions to make. Let them do this before you report/scaremonger us.
If it was a war
I could agree on your Loose Lips Sinks Ships theory, but we are talking about a School Board Meeting here. If it wasn't for reporting on Public Meetings, we wouldn't know about the Norfolk "No Show Worker". Using your logic the People of Virginia Beach would be the proud owners of a new 109 million dollar Hotel that they don't want. Public knowledge stopped that fiasco as well it should. When Pandarvis turns in the new SUV furnished by the City along with City gas to drive back and forth to his Home in VIRGINIA BEACH, I might listen to his "we are short 10 million dollars" tale of woe, until then, he might try finding a Taxpayer that cares.
Say What?
Why? What do you have to hide? Keep up the good work Virginian Pilot. Report the news and the truth...cancelling the meeting only makes it look suspicious. Tell the truth and maybe you gain the sympathy of the community, try to hide information and look bad as you are now.