Re "Dissent takes beating in court" (editorial, March 14):

I read with great disappointment The Bee's editorial on free-speech protections. While there is no doubt that Orange Unified school board member Steve Rocco's comments were "boorish," The Bee neglected to mention that they were also potentially illegal and defamatory.

Rocco stated in open session that he wanted to fire a district principal for not doing a good job. The board's censure resolution was a statement of opinion from the rest of the board disagreeing with his statements. This did not stop Rocco from speaking and placed no restrictions on future conduct.

The editing of the district's videotape was an attempt to prevent the continued release of the potentially defamatory statements, which would have exposed the district to liability. At no time was the official record of the meeting modified, and media outlets were free to report their own version of what occurred.

The other four board members could not respond to Rocco's comments without violating the principal's confidentiality rights; the censure resolution was the only way for the rest of the board to state its opinion. As an elected school board member, I strongly disagree with The Bee's assertion that Rocco's right to free speech is protected but the rest of the board's is not.

– Paula Campbell, West Sacramento president, California School Boards Association