Bledsoe County Board votes to end monthly live social-media broadcasts of meetings

The Bledsoe County Board of Education voted Jan. 6 to discontinue monthly live broadcasts of its meetings on social media platforms, citing concerns about possible manipulation and the spread of misleading clips.

“The true, true word of the board is just minutes,” the board chair said during discussion about whether to continue live broadcasts, expressing concern that recordings could be manipulated by artificial-intelligence tools. The chair moved to end live social-media broadcasts; the motion was seconded and carried after debate.

Board members who opposed ending broadcasts argued recordings and livestreams increase public participation and transparency. One board member noted the meetings draw views online, saying, “I look back in November, there was 46,100 views. In December, there's 43,100 views,” (verbatim from the meeting transcript) and urged the board to keep broadcasts to reach the community. That member also said archived recordings make it easier to verify what was said at meetings.

During debate some members emphasized that the official minutes would remain the board’s authoritative record. After roll call, the motion passed with five votes in favor and two opposed; the board chair confirmed the district would stop monthly social-media broadcasts. A board member who voted to end live broadcasts asked staff to ensure that people could still access meeting content; the board did not adopt new specific archival or access rules at the meeting.

The board did not cite a date when the change would take effect; during discussion board staff and members indicated the broadcasts (which began during the COVID era) had continued to the present. The minutes and previously posted recordings will remain available on the district website unless otherwise specified.