When Jennifer Abell, a member of the Charles County Board of Education in southern Maryland, started a blog with the goal of encouraging dialogue between the school board and the greater community, she didn't think it would be controversial.

In fact, she got the idea to start a blog after attending an educational session at a National School Boards Association meeting, thinking it would be a great way to answer questions from parents and share information that might otherwise be ignored. So, after school board elections, she posted the meeting minutes announcing the board's new chair and vice-chair. Yes, it's true — Abell dared to make public information public. 

Apparently, fellow board members did not appreciate Abell publicizing meeting information through unofficial channels, even though that information was not confidential. Of course, posting such information is well within Abell's First Amendment rights, and she was actually providing minutes that, according to the county's local newspaper, usally takes up to a month to be published on the board's website. 

If state senators and even the Speaker of the House can have blogs without offending anyone (well, at least not offending anyone through the simple act of having a blog), why can't locally elected officials? What is it about school and small-town politics that makes people hypersensitive? Perhaps school boards want to present a united front in which all communication is agreed upon before being made public. But if a board member is using her blog primarily to field questions, post meeting minutes, and communicate information that has already been discussed and voted on, why is she viewed as going against the team? A quick scroll through Abell's posts reveals such controversial and opinionated headlines as "Teen Driving Bills Introduced" and "School System Publishes Its Annual Report." Someone shut this woman down!

Abell should be commended for her attempts to engage her community and get input on decisions from those affected by them the most — students, parents, and teachers. And it should be noted that Abell offers a disclaimer on her blog that clearly states its purpose and author. Even her effort at being more transparent is transparent!

Welcome! A blog, run by Jennifer Abell, Member of the Charles County Board of Education, involving topics and issues on education and children. Comments are not official communications of the Charles County School Board but are a personal effort to be more transparent. Both complimentary comments and constructive criticism are not only appreciated but encouraged. Student participation is also encouraged and therefore the use of proper language and decorum is requested at all times.

Emily Raij