Transparency in publicly supported workplaces is not something that is always easy to practice. When issues are unusually contentious, and when there are indications of poor judgment and signs of mismanagement, it is tempting to say “no thanks” to inquiries and to close the door.
When the public is paying the bills and leadership was likely elected, that is not an acceptable position to take. So, too, for organizations that operate as monopolies and are funded by fees. Without a choice in sources for water and sewer services, for example, those organizations have to perform as though almost nothing is secret.
Once a year, during what is referred to nationally as Sunshine Week, news media are encouraged to challenge public organizations to determine their degree of transparency.
To do that, the Journal drew on recent events in the community.
Last Friday’s news story rightly gave high marks to the 22nd Judicial District’s chief justice for permitting in December the Journal’s reporter to tweet from the courtroom during the trial of a man charged with stabbing a city police officer. A month later, the court again approved the use of real-time electronic reporting during the trial of a sex offender. The content of tweets may be limited, but they can satisfy the public’s desire to know in a timely fashion what is taking place.
That is a change that is with us to stay.
Important to the judge, we are sure, is that tweets be sent innocuously without disrupting courtroom proceedings.
Cortez’s city attorney also deserves praise for providing copies of disciplinary actions taken against police officers who were involved in the arrest of a mentally disturbed individual. Attorney Mike Green required the Journal to submit its request in formal written and signed fashion, which was not unreasonable, and then provided the material requested at no charge.
That kind of response reflects well on his office and on the city council that hired him.
Transparency as it involves School District Re-1 leaves something to be desired, however. The Journal and the superintendent have been at odds, and that may be playing a role. Changing budget numbers were challenged a year or so ago, and there was some uncertainty about how many teaching position vacancies would occur last fall. The Journal’s reporting did not reflect well on the district.
While there is plenty of positive news associated with some students and student activities, overall flat and underperforming student test scores in the school district is not news that is comfortable to spend much time talking about. We do applaud, however, superintendent Alex Carter’s candor when he says that the district is not solely to blame. Teachers can only do so much; the home environment must be supportive of education.
The current issue pertains to board meeting material. While the Journal reporter does receive the same packet that school board members receive prior to board meetings, which is the bulk of the material, documents that are carried in by meeting presenters — district staff — are sometimes unavailable. One more copy would correct that.
Transparency in the workings of governments and taxpayer funded organizations is at democracy’s core. Here in Montezuma County there are some bright spots, and some areas where more work is needed.
