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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 14, 2005 Eagle Point schools clash with paper The Upper Rogue Independent prints scathing editorials against the schools’ union and publishes the district’s newsletter By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Four years ago, the seven-member executive council of the Eagle Point School District’s employee union canceled its free subscriptions to the Upper Rogue Independent, a weekly newspaper out of Eagle Point that publishes the district’s monthly newsletter. Their reason: scathing editorials by Editor Nancy Leonard against the union, the Eagle Point Education Association, appeared in the same editions as the district newsletter that the district pays Leonard $29,727.50 a year to write, edit, print and distribute to the district’s 14,000 residents, said Jody Streetman, education association president. "When you get paid ($29,727.50 a year), how are you going to paint the district?" Streetman said. "You wouldn’t want to lose out on that. You would portray the district in a favorable light." During recent negotiations between the district and the union over a three-year employee contract for 2005 through 2008, Leonard’s role as news reporter, editorial writer and district communications agent made some teachers question whether the district’s contract with the newspaper is a conflict of interest, said Michael Curtis, a teacher at Eagle Point High School. "I think the public was against the union largely because of her editorials," Curtis said. Advertisement The district and the union reached an agreement last week that included employee pay hikes and enhanced health care benefits, but no limit on class sizes. Leonard and Superintendent Bill Feusahrens disputed that the newsletter contract is inappropriate or sways the tide of public opinion. The arrangement is the most cost-effective way to communicate with the public, Feusahrens said. Since the contract started, Leonard says she has met district superintendents to let them know that the money she receives from the district will not change her news coverage and editorials for the newspaper. "I’ve worked very hard to let the school district know that when I work for them, it’s their call," she said. "When I work for the newspaper, that’s my call." As evidence of her dedication to balanced news, she cited her decision to print all the letters to the editor from teachers and others who disagree with her editorials about the union as long as they contain fewer than 300 words. The newsletter is an "insert" in the newspaper but is printed in the same size and format as the rest of the publication. The district pays Leonard $2,637 a month from September to June to write, edit, print and distribute the district newsletter detailing the calendar, lunch menu and events. Leonard receives $3,357.50 for the August edition. Those amounts include mailing the newsletter along with the newspaper to every resident of the district. "That’s where her personal opinion is spread to everyone," said Jeri Marlia, an Eagle Point resident whose husband teaches in the district. The contract between the district and the newspaper has been in place for about 15 years and is up for review each June, Leonard said. As a service contract, it is not subject to the bidding process, said Greg Lecuyer, district finance director. Feusahrens said the district considered the overall cost of bulk mail and separate writing, printing and mailing list services and determined publishing the newsletter with the Upper Rogue Independent was the most cost-effective. "Paying ($29,727.50), we feel we are getting a tremendous deal," Feusahrens said. Gene Evans, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Education, said the newsletter is considered advertising and is legal. "I don’t think (the contract between the district and the Upper Rogue Independent) qualifies as a conflict of interest," Evans said. "A conflict of interest would be if a school board member owned the paper and also did editorials about how great the school board is." Jack Orchard, attorney for the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, said while the contract might be legal, it is a risky practice for a journalist who wants to present objective news. "It is akin to a large piece of advertising, but it raises issues of independence and objectivity," Orchard said. "It’s a tough ethical issue when a journalist has to ask, ‘Do I provide as objective coverage as I can knowing they benefit me with this contract?’" Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4496 or e-mail Eagle Point schools clash with paper ">[email protected] . 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