KAAL is contesting Lyle Public School’s recent electronic media policy after Lyle officials asked television reporters to leave at Lyle Public School board’s November meeting.

KAAL provided the Daily Herald with a copy of a letter it sent to Lyle Superintendent Jim Dusso this week challenging the electronic policy put in place in late September. Lyle’s policy effectively prohibits TV media from moving TV cameras throughout the room during a board meeting and stipulates all cameras must be set up at least 10 minutes before the meeting begins and can’t be removed for five minutes after the meeting adjourns.

“The new policy seems entirely unrelated to any real problems or issues that have been identified, and makes it very difficult for news organizations like ours to adequately cover the meetings and proceedings of the Board,” KAAL News Director Mike Schram wrote in a letter addressed to Dusso.

Schram said Thursday the policy prevents KAAL reporters from interviewing the public and public officials. He said the TV station was fighting for the same rights citizens have to move about the room during a meeting and talk with citizens and public officials present.

“They’ve developed a policy that not only goes beyond the letter of the law but the spirit of the Open Meetings Act,” Schram said.

KAAL requests the board end the policy by Dec. 12, the same day as the board’s December meeting. The TV station feels the district created the policy without getting input from media outlets. KAAL offered to discuss the policy with Lyle officials and will consider taking further action should the district not rescind the policy, according to the letter.

“We’re not trying to cause problems here,” Schram said. “We essentially want to have the same rights that the rest of the public have.”

Schram said he had not heard a response from district officials as of Thursday afternoon.

Board chairman Dean Rohne had no comment on KAAL’s letter as he had not read it.

Dusso was unavailable for comment.