Pa. has chance to improve the Sunshine Act

The state Legislature is considering a reform that shouldn’t be but sadly is necessary.

The measure would amend the Sunshine Act, requiring that school boards, township boards of supervisors, borough councils and other public agencies make their meeting agendas available to the public online at least 24 hours before a meeting and make copies of the agenda available to any attendee who would like one before the meeting starts.

The agenda would have to include all significant matters to be deliberated or decided at the meeting, and no significant matter not on the agenda could be decided except in the case of “an emergency involving a clear and present danger to life or property.”

This is not about making life difficult for officials. It is about making a public meeting truly public. Anyone who’s been to a meeting and heard officials referring to items on the agenda by a number and/or letter knows how frustrating that can be.

The Sunshine Act is meant to allow citizens to do more than just watch their public officials go through the motions. It should make what public officials discuss and decide at public meetings clear enough to citizens that they can participate by commenting if they wish to do so. And citizens should be given notice ahead of meetings at which important decisions will be made so they can attend them if they wish.

Lawmakers are right to work toward making public meetings more truly public. This measure should become law.

Cokie Roberts, pioneer

Women have made great strides in the world of political journalism in recent decades. It was people like Cokie Roberts who helped make this progress possible. Roberts, a journalist and commentator who cowrote a column that appeared in MediaNews Group newspapers, died this week at the age of 75, leaving behind a tremendous legacy.

Roberts, best known for her work on NPR and ABC News, made a point of championing young women in media during her long career. Though Roberts had the advantage of practically growing up in Congress — both of her parents served in the House — she still had to deal with plenty of disrespect from people who had to be convinced women were qualified to report and deliver the news. Once she became established, she encouraged other women to enter the fray as well.

Roberts’ views and approach to her work reflected her upbringing in an era when bipartisanship was common in the Capitol. Upon her death, many who disagreed with her political positions praised her for her willingness to listen and respect different viewpoints. She was eulogized this week by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Conservative commentator George Will, who often sparred with Roberts on ABC’s “This Week” program, said Roberts was a throwback to the days before tribalism ruled Washington.

“She liked people on both sides of the aisle and had friends on both sides of the aisle,” Will told NPR after Roberts’ death.

Washington, and the rest of America, could use more of that type of approach today.

Schools and busing

For years now the issue of transporting students has occupied an inordinate amount of attention in the Exeter School District in Berks County.

Back in 2011 the school board commissioned a study on the efficiency of its transportation services. The resulting report found that the district’s system was well-run but that it would be worth at least exploring outsourcing the service to an outside vendor. The board did look into the idea, which caused an uproar among district residents who prefer having bus drivers employed by the district.

By the end of 2012 school directors had decided to keep things as they are. But the idea resurfaced early in 2018 when the school board’s new transportation committee decided to review transportation services again.

Once again there was an uproar, complete with petition drives and yard signs calling for support of district drivers.

This week the board took the idea off the table after receiving proposals from two outside transportation firms, both of which would have increased the cost of busing.

There is no harm in exploring this issue from time to time. It’s sound practice for school boards to consider all their options.