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By Gretchen Garrity
We tend to think that news on the local level is pretty clean. Agendas don't seem to be much of a thing.
Or are they? Let's take a look.
The Springfield News-Leader published an article on August 7, 2023 (keep that date in mind) titled "Ozark school board issues 'rebuke' of member who hosted solo 'town hall' meetings," by reporter Claudette Riley. In Riley's defense, reporters do not usually write the headlines.
Knowing that people often read only the headline--especially those who are online and don't subscribe to either the digital or physical edition of the paper--the impression overall is a negative one.
While Riley quoted part of the public letter the Ozark School Board issued in response to School Board Member Christina Tonsing's community chat, she left out some important points that bring clarity to the issue.
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The actual meat of the Board's letter was this ill-advised statement:
"However, under Missouri Law individual Board members have no authority outside official Board meetings or unless a majority of the Board votes, to provide specific authority to an individual Board member regarding a matter. The Missouri Court of Appeals has stated as follows: 'Unless otherwise authorized by the board, individual members are not empowered to act and cannot govern.' Colombo V. Buford. 935 S. W. 2d 690, 698 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996)."
Tonsing responded publicly by pointing out the cited court case actually supported school board members meeting with the public:
"The quoted sentence, which IS indeed found written in the opinion on the case (seventh paragraph under "Discussion" part C, found at https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/court-of-appeals/1996/wd51723-2.html, does not AT ALL reference one board member holding listening sessions or anything else like that. It instead is used to support the next sentence's conclusion (note the use of the word 'thus') that groups of less than a quorum do NOT violate the Sunshine Law, so they CAN talk together with each other (and as the entirety of that point in the court case addresses, with the public) without worry of violation. Ironically enough, the very quote attempted to use to quell individual "meetings" with the public, was instead intended by the Appeals Court to support them:
This court previously addressed the issue of what constituted a "public governmental body" in Tribune Pub. Co. v. Curators of Univ. of Mo., 661 S.W.2d 575, 584 (Mo.App.1983). There we recognized the power to govern as being a factor in determining what constitutes a "public governmental body", stating that "the quintessence of a `public governmental body' is the power to govern.... It defies semantics to believe that the legislature intended inclusion of bodies or entities barren of the power to govern in the definition of `public governmental body'." Id. Unless otherwise authorized by the Board, individual members are not empowered to act and cannot govern. Thus, because members of a body cannot act individually. Groups of less than a quorum of the board would not logically fall within the definition of a "public governmental body" subject to the Sunshine Law."
Read Tonsing's July 22, 2023 response for yourself. (Scroll down) It's quite good. While the Ozark School Board's letter was linked to in the article, Riley failed to link to Tonsing's public response, which frankly, is a devastating critique of the Board's action against her.
The real issue, that the School Board was somehow threatened by a board member meeting with the public which elected her, was entirely missing from the article. Does anyone else wonder why the article was just now published on August 7, when the Board's public letter was presented at the June 29, 2023 meeting? Timing is everything, as they say.
MOVING ON
"Wilson said the community wants transparency, good communication and fiscal accountability. She said all of those are high priorities."
It goes on:
"Board president Sarah Adams Orr," (the same gal who signed the Board letter rebuking Tonsing for meeting with citizens) "said the district has committed to hosting four town hall meetings this school year dedicated to hearing from the community...Orr said parents and taxpayers are also welcome to "email or call board members with questions, comments" before and after the meetings. She said public comment regarding agenda items will still be accepted at board meetings."
RECAP
1) August 7: article published about Christina Tonsing's June 29 public rebuke by Ozark School Board.
2) August 7: Springfield News-Leader's Claudette Riley interviews Interim Superintendent Lori Wilson and Board President Sarah Adams Orr.
3) August 8: Riley tweets out a thanks in response to a School District teaser tweet about the upcoming puff piece on Wilson.
4) August 10: Springfield News-leader publishes article about Lori Wilson.
Does anyone believe this is all just a coincidence?
There are many well-known issues with the Ozark School District. That is why two new board members were recently elected. It's why groups like Ozark Schools Support Team exists. The OSST has published an open letter to the School Board. It is worth reading. You will get a truer picture of the situation. And then attend one of their two town hall meetings scheduled for next week.
By all means attend everything the Ozark School District is offering and take advantage of the new spirit of transparency there. But don't rely on either the press or the school district to give you the whole picture.
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