School Comm. reconsiders televising meetings
Published on November 23rd, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - The School Committee is going to reconsider putting its meetings on cable TV.
Stephen Gucciardi killed the original proposal to televise the meetings by abstaining from breaking a 2-2 tie of the committee in early October.
The Oct. 25 Town Meeting had a low turnout, but of those who were there, an obvious majority voted to recommend the meetings be televised.
Last Thursday, Nov. 18, Gucciardi asked his fellow School Committee members to reconsider their original vote.
Logic suggests that since the original vote was 2-2 and the member who in effect cast the deciding "no" vote asked for reconsideration, the School Committee will be the next addition to must-see-TV.
But this process will not be quick and easy. Terri Ghannam of Green Street, sponsor of the warrant article to televise the School Committee, asked the committee to vote at the Nov. 18 meeting, but no vote was taken.
There was talk of holding a public hearing sometime in January and polling PTOs.
School Committee Chairwoman Jeanne Craigie also questioned whether the school department can legally sanction the taping of its employees. The superintendent and other administrators sit with the elected committee at most meetings.
However, surrounding towns tape meetings of the same format.
Craigie also said she would not support televising the meetings if doing so would cost the school any money or manpower.
Ghannam said a letter on file at the selectmen's office says Media One will tape the meetings at no cost to the schools.
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