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Sunday, April 16, 2006
Question public officials’ actions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We all have our own little way of doing things. Your way may not be the best way. Nor is it the only way.
Let’s say you’re chief operating officer for Gwinnett County Public Schools. And under your watch, 25 campuses go a year or longer without undergoing fire code inspections.
How would you handle public fallout?
Well, here’s what yours truly would do.
First, I’d gather facts — the good and bad of what went errant. That way, I’d be ready for any conjecture brought forth by upset parents and media with questions that deserve answers. Next, I’d schedule a sit-down with the local press corps — a give-and-take with reporters assigned to cover the story. Maybe I’d suggest that Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks or one of his lieutenants accompany me.
And I’d attend that meeting loaded for bear. Prepared statements. Charts and copies of school inspection reports. Whatever necessary to clear the air. I might have handouts, too. One would document campuses that had been inspected properly and timely by county fire marshals. The other would show those that had fallen below radar. There’d be details of the violations, buoyed by info on what had been done to correct them since they came to light in January.
Now here’s where it gets critical. I’d lay out what my department has done to ensure parents that no campus goes a year, much less several years, inspection free. I’d be firm. Speak with conviction. After all, we’re talking about student safety.
Finally, I’d address the community — the parents and their kids. I’d write a letter or column and ask the media to publicize it. In it, I’d tell the people that the undetected infractions had been relatively minor. Easy fixes. That, even though the lack of inspections is serious business, it fortunately didn’t result in injury. Or death.
I’d let them know their school system had put in place a procedure to alert the fire marshal when inspections don’t occur. And I’d implore them to contact my office with questions.
Like I said, we all have our way of doing things. By no means is my way the best. But know what: It’s far better than the one taken by Jim Steele, who holds the position of chief operations officer for Gwinnett public schools.
When approached by an AJC Gwinnett News reporter for a face-to-face interview, he declined. Said that he might be misquoted. He even refused an offer to let both sides tape-record the interview. That way, if a dispute arose between what he said and what appeared in print, he’d have proof he was misquoted.
He wanted his questions e-mailed, and we obliged.
You might ask what’s the big deal. The questions still got answered and the paper still got the story, right? Sort of.
Experience has taught me that public officials who are reluctant to engage in the give-and-take of a live interview are insisting on a method that allows them to couch statements. They can avoid answering directly. It’s impossible to get clarity on an answer that’s vague, perhaps by design.
In Mr. Steele’s case, it says something else loudly and clearly — that this public official doesn’t answer to the public. He’s not about to let his operation, his decisions be questioned by a journalist.
Or you.
