Mason City School District agrees to release more information to media via “packets”

by Matt Marquardt –

I am pleased to report today that the Mason City School District has agreed to produce a packet of detailed information prior to monthly school board general meetings and make them available to the media.

The packets will better explain and give background information on each agenda item that the School Board handles at their  general meetings.

School Superintendent Anita Micich agreed to revisit the district’s media policy after we recently held phone and email discussions on the matter.

Today, Dr. Micich, myself and Finance Director Ramona Jeffery held a meeting at the district’s administration building and agreed to work together to provide accurate, detailed and fair reporting on the district’s business.  We all agreed that there will be times where we may not see eye-to-eye on some policies or actions but to work together as respectfully as possible.

Micich said prior to the meeting that the district’s media policy “had not been addressed” in her time here in Mason City. She researched the issue and discovered that “packets” had been created and made available in the past, years ago, but the practice had stopped.  She agreed that the information in the packets is public record and that it should be made available if requested.

I was pleasantly surprised at today’s meeting to be handed a packet that covered the agenda items from last week’s meeting.  I am told that this is the same information that the School Board receives prior to meetings so that they can make informed decisions.

I feel that the public should have the same information that the School Board receives, so that it can better understand how the district works and the challenges it faces.

After all, the School Board is selected from the public; they are citizens, unpaid volunteers really, and the next persons that serve on the board should be as informed as possible.

I think this will help.