Richland 1 will consider live-streaming school board meetings

Richland 1 will formally consider live-streaming its public meetings, the school board voted Tuesday.

Board member Beatrice King called for the board to consider live-streaming the meetings after she said constituents told her it could improve transparency and access to meetings. She also pointed out that because other public bodies, such as Richland County Council and Columbia City Council, live stream meetings, there is precedent for public bodies doing this. Also, Richland 1 live streams high school graduations, so it most likely has the technology to live-stream school board meetings.

The board did not cast a final vote on whether to live-stream meetings. Rather, it voted 6-1 in favor of formally considering it.

Board member Cheryl Harris cast the lone dissenting vote. Harris said she voted against the measure because sometimes during the public comment section, those who are speaking will accidentally identify a student, which is forbidden at school board meetings.

“Our oath is to protect our students and that includes their identities,” Harris said at the meeting.

Harris pointed out that the district already video records its meetings and posts them online within 48 hours of the meeting. She also worried that if someone were to slip and use a student’s name at a meeting, it could open the district to liability.

The Richland 1 board decides on certain student punishments, hiring and firing teachers and other personnel matters at school board meetings, but all identifying information is presented behind closed doors in executive session. When the board votes in open session, the student or employee is usually identified as something like “student No. 1” or “teacher No. 1.”

Christi Lewis, the former president of the Richland County Education Association, told The State after Tuesday’s meeting that there may be a middle ground. If the district can add a short delay — a few seconds — that would allow a staffer to block a student’s name if it is mentioned. Though, that could mean more manpower and expertise, and therefore more cost, Lewis said.

“I’ve been here when people were told not to mention schools or students and it happens,” Lewis said.