Sunshine Review Sources

One of our sources for facts, Sunshine Reviewii, is a widely respected independent National Open Government Organization. Sunshine Review evaluates the transparency of state government and local government (both Boards of Supervisors and School Boards). The following summary report card provides a starting point to evaluate how Transparentiii our Essex County government is. As citizens, we have the right to expect a high level of Transparency if we are willing to demand transparency and to pay the cost of providing open government.

The Essex County Board of Supervisors web site iv has a Sunshine Review score of D-.v The Essex County School Board web sitevi has a Sunshine Review score of D.vii Compare the Essex County Scores with the overall or average grades for our Commonwealth and local government units below.

Virginia on Sunshine Review viii Transparency report card

Our D- falls far below the state average C for Boards of Supervisors' websites. The D of the Essex School Board is well below the state average C. Please note that the Essex County School Board announced in May that a new website is being developedix with an "available on the web" target of July 2012.

Our next article will look at the surrounding counties.

WARNING – Essex County, as of mid-May 2012 does not compare well with the adjacent Board of Supervisors or adjacent School Boards in the critical measure of TRANSPARENCY! It's our opinion that a lot of sunshine is needed to make the process of governance TRANSPARENT in Essex County! We'll show you what shutters should be opened, what shades to pull up, and the drapes to be pulled open.

[1][i] Code of Virginia – Freedom of Information Act Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 (primary source)

[1][ii] http://Sunshine Review: Bringing State & Local Government to Light | Official Site

[1][iii] http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Transparency_Checklist

[1][iv] http://www.essex-virginia.org/ex_gov.htm

[1][v] http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Evaluation_of_Virginia_county_websites

[1][vi] http://www.essex.k12.va.us/

[1][vii] http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Evaluation_of_Virginia_school_district_websites

[1][viii] http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Virginia

[1][ix] http://www.essex.k12.va.us/agendasb.pdf Essex County School Board Agenda for May 14, 2012 Item VII Informational Item sub item C New ECPS Website Demonstration and Minutes (to be published) of the May 14 School Board Meeting

Clickener and Sunshine Review