School board should keep cameras rolling

The Pleasant Valley School Board is wrong in its recent decision not to televise each of the school board meetings this year. Yes, the meetings are still open to the public, but turning off the cameras during half of the semimonthly sessions makes it difficult for many busy parents to keep up with what's happening in Camarillo's local school district.

Parents often don't have the time to spend hours at city hall to attend a school board meeting, which is why watching them at home is so convenient.

Having the meetings televised locally gives many residents- especially senior citizens and the parents of young children- greater accessibility to the board meetings.

Board President Ron Speakman said turning the cameras off will allow the members to speak more freely in a workshop-type environment, unencumbered with concerns that their words might be misinterpreted.

What the school board fails to realize, though, is that shutting down the cameras- especially as school closures loom and the battle for unification intensifies- might be construed by the public as a sign that the school board is trying to hide something.

Secrecy breeds mistrust.

That's why open decision-making is important. What's equally important, if not more so, is the public's understanding of how school officials come to their conclusions.

The school district is fighting an uphill battle in the bid for unification. It's also dealing with declining enrollment and the real possibility of campus closures. These issues affect property values and thousands of residents.

In turbulent times, the school board cannot afford to become the Wizard of Oz, a secretive, powerful body hidden behind a curtain.

The board must pull back the curtain and allow the public to see how it addresses problems and reaches conclusions.