Comments on: Open Records law compliance good overall http://www.schoolboardtransparency.com/?p=496 Sunlight on Board-Union Contract Negotiations Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:48:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jim Butt http://www.schoolboardtransparency.com/?p=496&cpage=1#comment-13567 Jim Butt Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:02:02 +0000 http://www.schoolboardtransparency.com/?p=496#comment-13567 I freely admit to being a complete newbie to the issues that Open Records poses, and I suspect that there will be considerable gnashing of teeth over the information that is brought out into the sunshine; however, if board members recognize that the new law provides an opportunity to educate their communities, to share the really complex and knotty decisions they face, and to leverage these opportunities into deep discussions about the future of education in their communities and, indeed, the state and nation; I believe we will be a stronger nation for it. We're facing some mighty big financial and priority challenges nationwide. I firmly believe that an educated populace CAN make good decisions about these challenges, but they need good information. In the absence of good facts and critical-thinking skills, we get fear-mongering, demagoguery, and blathering by talking heads. This is not a good alternative, however messy Open Records might appear. I freely admit to being a complete newbie to the issues that Open Records poses, and I suspect that there will be considerable gnashing of teeth over the information that is brought out into the sunshine; however, if board members recognize that the new law provides an opportunity to educate their communities, to share the really complex and knotty decisions they face, and to leverage these opportunities into deep discussions about the future of education in their communities and, indeed, the state and nation; I believe we will be a stronger nation for it.

We’re facing some mighty big financial and priority challenges nationwide. I firmly believe that an educated populace CAN make good decisions about these challenges, but they need good information. In the absence of good facts and critical-thinking skills, we get fear-mongering, demagoguery, and blathering by talking heads. This is not a good alternative, however messy Open Records might appear.

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