Lacrosse School Board policy limits contact with the media and its members
LA CROSSE (WKBT) — New members join the La Crosse Board of Education school district. News 8 I have been asked to speak to her now. It was denied because it is not permitted under school board policy, which was implemented 17 years ago.
If words mean anything, bullet 5 of the La Crosse Board of Education’s mission statement shows that the school district is “effectively communicating and working with the community.”
But it doesn’t explain why the school board can’t feature News 8’s newest board member, former Logan High School teacher Emily Moots.
In August, former director Rob Abraham resigned. Abraham criticized the district’s proposed referendum to merge the two high schools. He also criticized superintendent Aaron Engel, likening Engel’s leadership to a dictatorship.
In his resignation, Abraham said, “This kind of leadership, direction and tactics will not allow me to continue to serve in good faith.
On Monday, the La Crosse School Board selected Moots to replace Abraham. During the meeting, Mootz said he wanted to join the board because of his previous experience as an educator in the La Crosse district.
“I never thought about quitting teaching because I was treated as a teacher in this school district,” Mootz said at the conference.
News 8 has reached out to the District Spokesperson to arrange an interview with Moots. The spokesman said no. He said the 2005 policy directed all media requests to the board chairman and only to the board chairman.
In the public school system, the superintendent answers the school board. Board members respond to taxpayers. Under current policies, taxpayers are rarely, if ever, contacted by the person they choose to represent them.
Therefore, although the district’s mission statement calls for effective communication, board policy limits it to one member. Her eight others, including Emily Moots, shut up.
Under Wisconsin’s Open Meeting Law, media policies were required to be published on the meeting agenda and voted on by the board. News 8 has now asked the district to prove it happened.
When News 8 Now was not allowed to speak to Emily Moots, we asked to speak to the only person allowed: President Juan Jiménez. rice field.
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