Warren County school board members will discuss this week the possibility of holding school board meetings at locations throughout the county rather than at the administrative offices on Route 62.

There is an argument to be made to do so. Having meetings in locations throughout the district may bring some people to meetings who are unable to take the time to drive to the administrative offices for meetings. Boards at all levels should do what they can to make it as easy as possible for the public to participate in meetings.

But there is more than one way to accomplish that goal.

As board member Misty Moore said during a recent meeting, the board can increase public participation through Zoom, something that has been limited this year.

The board can also record the meetings and post them to either YouTube or on the district’s website so that the public who aren’t available when the board meets – there is, after life, outside of board meetings – can view them later and remain engaged.

Board members and Gary Weber, district superintendent, agreed that there should be a public survey that informs the decision whether or not to take board meetings on the road. But public input shouldn’t be limited to one or two options. Some option to either have the meeting available via Zoom or recorded should remain even if the decision is made to take meetings to locations other than the administrative offices. While the district has spent money to outfit the board room for Zoom, there are simpler options that may not provide the quality district residents are used to but still provide an ability to follow the proceedings live.

We would argue that the public survey on meeting sites shouldn’t be presented as an either-or proposition. If the public wants occasional meetings elsewhere in the region, then the district should find a way to either livestream or broadcast the meeting via Zoom from the remote site. It doesn’t have to be the same stream available from the administrative offices, but should be available nonetheless, in our opinion.

The city of Warren and the Warren County Commissioners have found ways to preserve their meetings for those who want to watch them after the fact. It’s something the Warren County School District should consider, too, as an additional way to engage the public.