Geary USD 475 did not livestream the school board meeting Monday evening. The reason is Kansas House Bill 2134 which became effective July 1.
Board of Education President Dr. Beth Hudson explained that the bill complicates the situation involving the number of Board members that can be in a meeting, and whether or not it is an open meeting. "So it also has to do with live streaming. We typically live stream tonight's ( Monday night's ) meeting. We didn't do that because we didn't want to be against what's being asked. We're still trying to find the correct way to interpet that law."
Hudson believes there is general confusion on the subject.
One possibility is that if Board meetings are live streamed then that would have to be done for all of their meetings. That could include other committees involving Board members that might also include teachers.
Hudson said that the Kansas Association of School Boards is advising Districts not to live stream until they're clear on the matter. "They say you would have to live stream every meeting that a Board member is in."
No live streaming means members of the public wanting to watch Board meetings would have to be in attendance. They would not be able to watch them on a computer device or phone from another location.