Oconee School Board Decides Against Live Streaming Meetings

The Oconee County Board of Education currently has no plans to live stream its meeting, according to Anisa Sullivan Jimenez, director of Communications for Oconee County Schools.

The Board of Education switched from virtual to in-person meetings for its July 20 meeting and live streamed that meeting, but Jimenez said on Aug. 3 that future Board meetings would not be live streamed.

Board Member Amy Parrish had indicated on Aug. 4, however, that the Board had discussed returning to live streaming and that the issue had not been resolved.

At the Sept. 17 virtual forum for Board of Education candidates, all four candidates, including incumbent Post 4 Board Member Tim Burgess, said they want the Board to begin live streaming its meetings.

None of the current five members of the Board of Education has responded to a request for an explanation of the decision not to live stream meetings.

Laura Ormes, running for Post 4 on the Board in opposition to Burgess, and Joan Parker, running for the open Post 5 position, said Thursday that they would agree to put live streaming of meetings on the agenda if they are elected on Nov. 3 and vote in favor live streaming.

Michael Ransom, also seeking Post 5, has not responded to two requests that he indicate his willingness to push for live streaming of Board meetings.

For more on this story, please go to Oconee County Observations.