RPS School Board Lifts “Gag Order”

The Richmond Times Dispatch is reporting that the school board rescinded the procedure that many interpreted as a gag order. I guess we weren’t the only ones who thought it hampered the board members ability to communicate with their constituents.

“I thought it was silly from the beginning,” said Vice-Chairwoman Kimberly B. Gray. “It inhibits my ability to speak the truth. There’s some good stuff happening in Richmond schools, but there’s some bad stuff, too, and we need to talk about that. And the media needs to be included in the discussion.”

Although Gray opposed the policy, she voted for it in March because of a procedural loophole that only allows supporters to bring an issue back for another vote. She brought it back on Monday.

“I was expecting some discussion,” she said.

It’s understandable that you’d perhaps want respect and civility in the way board members communicate outside of the board room, but in seems that it should be a discussion rather than a mandate.