Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Board president denies telling RBTV to skip Thursday's special meeting

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

For the past year, RBTV has taped and then broadcast Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 school board meetings. But RBTV was a significant no-show at Thursday's special meeting of the school board when the board announced its decision on the fate of Superintendent/Principal Jack Baldermann.

One RB parent who wished to remain anonymous told the Landmark on Monday that an RBTV cameraman told her on Friday that school board President Larry Herbst told RBTV not to tape the meeting.

"We got a phone call from Larry Herbst that we don't want it videotaped," the recent graduate said, according to the parent.

This comment could not be independently confirmed by the Landmark. The RBTV cameraman, who has been involved in RBTV's broadcasts of school meetings the entire year, including operating a camera at two June meetings after he had graduated from RB, twice hung up on a Landmark reporter on Monday and then did return a message that was left asking for comment.

On Monday, Herbst denied ordering RBTV not to broadcast the meeting.

Herbst said that RBTV head Gary Prokes called him the day before the meeting and told him that he might have trouble getting a crew for the meeting. Herbst said he told Prokes that RBTV did not have to broadcast the meeting because it was a special meeting.

"I think I said you don't have to do it," said Herbst. "I can't remember the exact words that I used to him. I told him it wasn't necessary. It was going to be a short meeting."

Prokes sent an e-mail in response to a request for comment from the Landmark.

"We are only required to tape the calendared meetings," Prokes wrote on Monday. "[N]o special meetings are required unless the board gives me direction. Actually we've never covered any special meeting."

Reader Comments

Posted: Friday, July 25, 2008 Article comment by: David Moreau When, I wonder, will Mr. Buttimer's coverage of the event be aired over RBTV? Posted: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Article comment by: Jerry Buttimer It was disappointing that RBTV was not present so I recorded audeo/video. I've sent the DVD to RBTV for broadcasting. It was not a short meeting over an hour and a half was spent on the Baldermann issue. After the Board spent over an hour and a half in two closed session immediately prior to this meeting. All should know we have the right to record open public meetings.

Article Comment Submission Form

-Bob Skolnik

Content © 2012 Riverside Brookfield Landmark Software © 1998-2012 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved