Controversial proposed school board media policy ‘diluted’ and approved by committee
New guidelines state trustees can speak freely — but must be clear it’s their opinion
A significantly watered-down version of a contentious policy addition proposed by Hamilton’s public school board to help trustees navigate media requests has been approved by committee.
The section, which was debated and reworked by the HamiltonWentworth District School Board’s governance committee over several months, was unanimously approved Tuesday evening and will be reviewed by the full board at its next meeting on March 26.
The “diluted” version has “absolutely no red flags,” said committee chair Todd White, who was among those who raised concerns over the restrictiveness of the original draft.
The approved draft in the document, renamed the “Governance Manual,” indicates “working with news media is an integral part of being an elected official” and a relationship is essential since journalists can “assist in disseminating information” to school communities.
“The chair is the spokesperson for the board,” the document reminds, a responsibility already enshrined in the Education Act.
But trustees “may speak with media about issues related to school board business,” the section reads. When they do, “they should be clear it is on their own behalf and not on behalf of the board.”
The document also advises trustees that staff, including board communications, “are available to assist trustees with gathering and providing additional information related to the requested topic.”
This is a significant shift from the original version, which used restrictive language — for example, “all” media requests “shall be directed to” the communications manager — raising concerns around transparency, accountability and freedom of speech. It also prompted criticism from local media leaders, including The Hamilton
Spectator, who wrote to the board with “serious concerns” about a potential Charter breach and urged them to reconsider.
Also within the scope of the newly formatted and clarified 63-page document, set to be revised at minimum every four years, are new and updated policies related to delegations, which have been reduced to five minutes each to make time for more speakers, and a protocol for written correspondence from the public. A suggestion to include social-media guidelines for trustees, which had not yet been defined, was scrapped.
White said the exercise of formalizing a media policy was “fruitful” if it clarified rules for trustees, but that the result is “kind of where we began,” stating clearly these are his own views.
“This is what already existed,” he said. “For me, there was never a question mark. This has been the practice.”
But, for some, there seemed to be value in defining when and where it’s appropriate for trustees to give interviews.
“Arguably now the answer is crystal clear that trustees have that ability, so long as they’re clear it’s their opinion,” White said.