Two school board members using personal email

Even since Hillary Clinton got caught using a private email server for official business, the country has held an opinion that "official" business ought to be conducted on "official" email accounts.

Why? Because the unofficial emails are hidden from public view.

Before moving to South Carolina in 2014, I raised this exact issue in Illinois, when certain members of the Woodstock (Ill.) City Council were using personal email accounts for official business.

I attended a training for appointed and elected public officials that was conducted by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. Since I was not an appointed or elected official, I held my questions until the officials had asked all their questions. And then I asked about use of private email accounts for handling official business.

The trainers from the AG's office said that should not be done.

After the meeting, the trainers thanked me for my good questions. I appreciated that.

Right here in the Richland 2 School District, there are two people on the board who use personal email addresses. One is Trustee Monica Elkins-Johnson, whose email address is "puttingstudentsfirst2012@gmail.com".

The other is Trustee-elect Teresa Holmes, whose email address is "docholmesschoolboard2@gmail.com". I write "Trustee-elect", because Holmes has never legally taken the oath of office after filing her Statement of Economic Interests Report on December 4, 2018.

Apparently, the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) believes it is okay for a school board member to use a personal email address.

Well, it's not. And the reason it is not, is because there is no guarantee that such email correspondence will be found in response to a FOIA Request to the School District. Only if ALL the emails are on the School District's email server is there a greater assurance (still not perfect) that a FOIA response will be complete.

Even if a board member agrees to comply with a FOIA request, could there be a Hillary Moment. Of course, there could.

More importantly, what about after that board member's term has expired? If Elkins-Johnson or Holmes leaves the school board, how will she preserve ALL the school-related emails?

The answer? She won't. With one click, she can delete that email account and the entire history will be gone. Later she can say, "Oops." But those emails will be gone.

Now is the time for a Board Policy that requires all school board members to use a District-server email account for all school board business.

Is there a Board member who will request such a new Policy?

OK, I'll get the ball rolling. I, as a member of the public, will request this issue be placed on the Agenda for a Regular Meeting. SEE Board Policy BEDB - Board Agenda. "Items of business may be suggested by board members, staff members, or the public."