Saturday, November 18, 2006
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This past Thursday, 2nd District Court Judge Michael G. Allphin issued a restraining order against the Davis School District on the basis that the Boundary Advisory Committee's closed meetings violated the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. Basically, the school district's policy of closed meetings of advisory committees has been struck down. Please see: www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650208126,00.html
We understand that it is always tough in redrawing school boundaries, and no matter what the District comes up with, there will be disgruntled parents. Nobody believes that this process is an easy one. However, the climate of secrecy around making decisions that permeates through South Davis governments needs to stop. Government needs to operate in the open. Tough decisions need to be worked out in the light of day. Minutes of these tough decisions need to be made public. People need to see what their government is doing. This is the chief cornerstone of a free democracy.
The challenge now is to take this ruling and apply it to all government entities in South Davis County. It is one thing when committees in secret mess with people's children and where they go to school, and yet another thing when cities and counties do not operate in the open, when it affects only a few people. People in southern Davis County seem to be so apathetic to what is going on in their communities unless it directly affects them. What they don't understand is that a clandestine government does affect everyone, and chips away at the fundamental freedoms of our American way.
When government is allowed to operate in secrecy, arbitrary and capricious decisions are made. Favors are granted and harm can be done. Recourse is limited and injustice is perpetrated. Corruption is allowed to seep in and everyone loses.
Please make your thoughts known regarding open government in each of your communities in South Davis County. This is an important right that needs to be preserved.