Forum schools
Francis Howell Central High School
St. Charles, MO
• Public school
• The Central Focus, newspaper; The Odessy, yearbook
• Adviser: Matthew David Schott
• Contact info: 636.851.5636, matthew.schott@fhsdschools.org
• Willing to talk with others about forum status, but is new to advising and not sure of history
• The Central Focus, newspaper, is a forum by policy.
• Length of time as a forum: New this year.
•This was a difficult journey for our school and we just attained public forum status this week actually. I'm in my fourth year and third principal in that time and so I've had to deal with a new administrator my first three years at FHC. Each one had slightly differing beliefs regarding prior review and public forum status. I have always, always, always fought to have our two publications as open forums. For the most part, the yearbook has been left alone, but the newspaper has not. My first year, the principal reviewed the paper and cut several things, despite my arguing and explanations. My second year, new principal, we were left alone to do as we wished.
With my current principal, last year he wanted to review before publishing, but said that he was hopeful he and I and my students could work toward him not having prior review. There were a couple instances last year where we covered something he was less than wild about, but my students were able to convince him their reasons for reporting were sound and just and he backed off his first position. After discussing things this year, my principal said he did not want to review the paper before publication, that he felt confident in the abilities and judgment of both me and my students. So now, we are a public forum! Woo hoo!! I wrote our editorial policy, with a big assist from the publications adviser at Francis Howell North, Aaron Manfull. I've edited it some, but not a ton.
Central Focus policy, go here