schools Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

1 May, 2014

Appeals court: TSSAA subject to Public Records Act

By Deborah Fisher|2020-02-23T10:11:53-06:00May 1, 2014|Categories: functional equivalent, public records lawsuits Tennessee, schools|Tags: Claudia Bonnyman, Court of Appeals, Frank G. Clement Jr., functional equivalent, litigation, schools, Southcomm, TSSAA|0 Comments

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association meets the standards of a "functional equivalent" of government and therefore is subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act, an appeals court in Nashville ruled today. The decision means the organization, which was created in 1925 and has an annual budget of $5 million, must abide by the same rules as government agencies when it comes to access to its records. Court of Appeals Judge Frank G. Clement Jr. The case arose in 2012 after TSSAA refused to give The City Paper records related to an investigation into tuition for athletes at Montgomery Bell Academy, arguing it was not subject to the [...]

17 Apr, 2014

Lawsuit challenges Sumner Schools for not allowing records request by email

By Deborah Fisher|2014-04-17T15:34:29-05:00April 17, 2014|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee, requests|Tags: litigation, public records request, schools, The Tennessean|0 Comments

Reporter Tena Lee with the Hendersonville Star News and The Tennessean reports on a new public records issue in Sumner County -- a challenge to a school board policy that requires a public records request to be made in person or by U.S. postal service. The article is reprinted here with permission: An open records advocate told by the Sumner County Board of Education that he had to submit requests either in person or via U.S. mail rather than by email filed a lawsuit in Sumner County Chancery Court April 9 challenging the board's practice. Ken Jakes, a resident of Joelton, Tenn., emailed the board of education's community relations supervisor, Jeremy [...]

15 Apr, 2014

7 new laws affecting meetings, records in TN – plus a few that didn’t make it
Gallery
7 new laws affecting meetings, records in TN – plus a few that didn’t make it

exemptions, Legislature

7 new laws affecting meetings, records in TN – plus a few that didn’t make it

By Deborah Fisher|2019-09-11T16:55:12-05:00April 15, 2014|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: child death records, economic development records, government transparency initiatives, government websites, legislature, schools, sexual assault records|0 Comments

As the 108th General Assembly wraps up this week, here's a quick rundown on new laws affecting government meetings and open records in Tennessee: Legislation passed: Sexual assault victims: The names of sexual assault victims can now be redacted from public records under new legislation that makes their identity confidential. This only applies after a conviction or guilty plea, and sentencing has occurred. In addition to the name, any images that depict the victim (video or photo) are also confidential, as is the victim's address and phone number. The victim has a right to waive confidentiality. Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, and Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson sponsored the bills. Note that [...]

14 Mar, 2014

Greene County school board chairman apologizes over TV camera ban

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:55:08-05:00March 14, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings, school boards|Tags: Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban, WJHL|1 Comment

The Greene County school board chairman apologized last night to "the board and to the public" over the TV camera ban from its public meeting last month, according to WJHL News Channel 11 and The Greeneville Sun. The board also proposed language that would change its camera policy. The policy allows the school board to prohibit cameras, including TV cameras, and is recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association. However, an Tennessee Attorney General's opinion about banning cameras from public meetings says they should only be prohibited if they create a safety problem or disturb the orderly conduct of the meeting. Neither of those reasons was given to the WJHL [...]

6 Mar, 2014

Jason Davis: Free press, until we disagree

By Deborah Fisher|2014-04-09T17:09:56-05:00March 6, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings|Tags: Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban|0 Comments

Jason Davis, editor of The Mountain Press in Sevierville, writes about the Greene County school board's decision to ban TV cameras from its meetings and the danger to a free press if its decision is allowed to stand. Here is an excerpt, republished with permission: Call it naiveté, but I generally believe most people seek public office because they think they can make a positive difference for their community. In many cases those elected are true statesmen — that is, they do right for the people they represent, putting the public, their constituents, before self. But there are some that, once elected, become entrenched and affected by the process. Often [...]