Darkness vs Transparency

“Everyone saying that emergency situations at local schools are not everyone’s business, are the same people who are on this page looking at everyone else’s business.”

There is a dangerous argument going on over the lack of notification by Goshen County Schools to the general Public during a lockout incident recently.

Several people are arguing that if you’re not a parent in the school system, then you have no right to know when there is an emergency situation.

Our rebuttal; We do not believe notifications should be made during the incident. However, immediately after the incident has been cleared, the general public should be notified. It should not be buried on a website and not publicized anywhere else.

Please note that the actual emergency response to this incident was by the textbook and incredibly smooth. We have no criticism whatsoever on the actual response. This is a media issue, not a law enforcement issue. Goshen County has some incredible emergency managers and public servants. We also believe the school system did a fantastic job as well. It sounded like everything was by the book. We repeat, this is an issue with their relationship with local media. We should be partners, not having to dig for critical information, that you know the public is going to want. That’s why you publish it on your website, isn’t it?

These are public schools paid for by public tax dollars. Police departments and emergency Management agencies are also paid for by our tax dollars. We have a right to that information because we paid for it. That is why it is legal and ethical for us to copy things directly from public entities.

Public information should be disseminated in a timely manner.