Board Meetings to Appear Live Online

Board members will likely approve a measure later this month that will allow them to live stream their meetings over a website called Ustream.tv.

Earlier this summer, Board President Bill Walsh asked administration officials to study videotaping meetings and posting them on the district’s website in a move to be more transparent in sharing information.

John Petzke, executive director for technology in the district, said after looking at several options he found the Ustream video-sharing service to be the most viable.

“The conversation started with videotaping and then I kind of stumbled upon streaming and it’s a much better experience,” he told board members Monday night.

It’s also a cheaper option. Because it is ad-supported, streaming meetings over Ustream.tv would be at no cost to the district. However, Petzke said officials have the option of removing the 30-second ad which would be displayed at the start of the streamed meeting for $99.

Currently the district uses BoardDocs, the electronic governance program that  makes audio recordings of the meetings available to the public.

“But that’s about a day or so delay,” Petzke said.

He said Ustream meets Walsh’s directive.

The technology “allows the general public who can’t otherwise attend the meeting to participate,” he said. “It allows us to increase transparency.”

Board members will likely approve using Ustream at their next board meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, in the community room of , 1525 Harvey Road.