Some of us older folks may have memories of the “You Make The Call” spots during NFL games in the 1980s. For you youngsters, the NFL would run a (sponsored, of course) segment where a controversial call or play from the previous week would be briefly reviewed in quiz format with the correct call being revealed at the end of the spot. In those spots, the refs called it right, as shown by the slow-motion and instant replay clips. Even if we thought the call was terrible against our Lions when we saw it live the week before. Those “You Make The Call” spots are not a thing anymore, but we still are able to begrudge those terrible, awful, completely and no doubt about it unjustified calls (even when they are the right call) the refs make against our beloved Lions during and after the game with video instant replay and the internet.  

Unlike college and pro football, we all have to remember that terrible, awful, completely and no doubt about it unjustified call (even when they are the right call) the refs make against our beloved local high school team based solely on the one-time we saw it since there is no instant replay during the regular season at the high school level. 

However, it’s a little bit different for a school board meeting. Some school boards choose to record their meetings as part of their broadcasting or streaming program, creating a publicly available record of the meeting. But what do you do with this record? 

The Open Meetings Act does not require audio or video recording of local governmental meetings. According to the Records Retention and Disposal Schedule for Michigan Public Schools issued by the State of Michigan Records Management Services, audio and/or video recordings of the meetings can be destroyed once the minutes of that meeting are approved. In short, school districts are not required to record their meetings, although if they broadcast it, the public can. If a school district chooses to make audio or video recordings of their school meetings, they are not required to archive, keep or maintain copies of the video after they have approved the minutes of that meeting.   

If you have any questions about this or other legal matters, contact MASB's Legal Department.