THE PUBLIC MIND: CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD INHERITED PHOTOGRAPHY DILEMA

To the Editor:

The Southeast Missourian ran a headline June 12 which stated "Photographers bemoan contract policy." A sub-headline stated "School board told process is unethical". I am the parent of a high school junior and also a photo studio owner who delivered a prepared address to the school board June 11, complaining that parents and students are being forced to use an official photographer for their yearbook pictures. Because some school board members are understandably upset about the "unethical" headline, I thought it appropriate to offer these comments:

My address to the school board was written on a computer, and so it was a simple job to command it to search all five written pages for the word "unethical". It appears only once, in the following passage: "What if our athletic department ran that way? We'd be telling all the tennis players they can't play tennis unless they purchase their rackets from WalMart, because WalMart gives us free tennis balls. That's nonsense. The yearbook should have its own advertising revenue, sales revenue, and donations. That money should be controlled by the financial officer like any other official account, and then this board should stand ready to make up any shortfall. Any other method is simply unethical in today's world."

I'm sorry if I came across as accusing the school board of being unethical. That was not my intention. The board did not set the policy that so many parents, students and photographers are upset about, i.e. that only a certain brand of portrait will be accepted for publication in the high school yearbook. To the contrary, the school board members didn't even know that such a policy existed until I complained to them about it. Two school board members even encouraged me to bring it up at an open board meeting, so that appropriate action could be taken. To have it turn out that they are doing something unethical, after having put their good reputation on the line, is unfair, not very sportsman-like, and certainly not my intention.

As for the first headline, "Photographers bemoan contract policy", I several times stated in my address that the school board was not doing anything improper in having a contract with a photographer. Photographers' services are needed throughout the school year, just as are architects, accountants, lawyers and insurance professionals. Contracts are a necessary part of running an honest, efficient school district, and I see nothing wrong with the bidding process. Again, what I am complaining about is telling the parents and students that they must use a certain photographer. We don't tell them that they must get their immunizations from a certain doctor, or their accident insurance from a certain agency, or their band instruments from a certain store!

This is not a complicated issue. I simply want the students to be able to choose me to take their yearbook pictures if they want to. I'll advertise and promote and set my prices in a competitive manner, and those who prefer my work can come to me if they so choose. It's that simple.

The yearbook advisor argues that it would increase her workload to have to deal with several photographers. That may be so. But if we applied that philosophy to the entire district, couldn't we line up all the kids at the start of the year and force them to march through an official immunization clinic? Couldn't we make them all buy official accident insurance? Besides, my research with the Professional Photographers of America reveals that in most states a yearbook advisor is not empowered to award contracts. Only school boards set policies and award contracts. But that's a legal matter, and I'm not a judge.

The point is, the current school board has done nothing unethical regarding this controversy. They didn't create it, and they haven't, as far as I know, condoned it. They inherited it, and if it weren't for our fabulous form of government, it might never have been brought to their attention. Board members, whether serving for the city, the library, the school district, or private organizations, take a lot of guff. They don't get any money out of it. The hours are absolutely terrible, and the phone calls and letters are disruptive. Board members contribute their time for the betterment of others, and at great expense to themselves and their families. They have my admiration, and gratitude. And, I appreciate being able to come to them with complaints from time to time.

Steve Robertson

Cape Girardeau