BOOKER, TEXAS -- Update Thursday 9a
Booker Superintendent Michael Lee issued the following statement:

"A gentleman showed up to the Booker High School football game last Friday, September 2, 2011, stating he was a Brazilian based reporter for the Al Jazeera news organization.  This individual, Gabriel Elizondo, showed up unannounced, was not previously known to me or anyone else at the District and offered only his business card as identification.  Mr. Elizondo sought out the high school principal for permission to interview spectators with his videographer about the affects of September 11, 2001 on American life.  The principal had concerns that these interviews would interfere with individuals watching the game and intrude on student privacy.  In light of these concerns, the principal asked that I address Mr. Elizondo’s request.

Student safety is a top priority with the District, and I had concerns about a self purported journalist who admitted his purpose was not to report the game, but to interview parents about 9/11.  The parents and public gathered at the High School to support the football teams, the bands, the cheerleaders and the two competing schools in general.  Texas public school property, including a football stadium, is not a public forum.  The District may place reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on public use of its facilities and reserves the right to use its facilities for school purposes.  For these reasons, I did not allow Mr. Elizondo to interview parents and students in the bleachers about 9/11.  Nonetheless, Mr. Elizondo could have remained and watched the game with everyone else.  Had Mr. Elizondo provided prior notice, I may have been able to facilitate his request and arranged for interviews before or after the game.

Booker High School football games are open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend. This invitation, however, is not without limits. Student safety is a top priority at all District events and the administration reserves the right to take all reasonable action to ensure that safety is not compromised.  This would include asking for proper identification or credentials as appropriate.  In an effort to balance the sometimes competing interests of the media, parents and students, the District has created a designated space for all media to film football games without detracting from student activities or disrupting spectators.  So that reasonable accommodations may be made for everyone, the District respectfully requests that any news media provide advance notice. 

The District appreciates everyone’s cooperation in this matter and has no further comment at this time."

In Booker, Elizondo said he was told by Lee he was not allowed to "take pictures or interview people" at the high school football game.

Elizondo goes on in his blog to say that Lee said things like, "I think it was damn rotten what they did."

As for an explanation, Elizono said he was given none. Instead, he was told that it was expected that he would not take photographs or video.

Click here to read the entire blog post, titled "Welcome to Texas! Unless you're Al Jazeera"

Just days later, Superintendent Lee issued a response saying it was not his intent to come across as disrespectful, but instead was concerned with several school issues like students having not returned home for the day.

Lee addresses every issue that is brought up in the blog and said that prior notice was not given to the school. The prior notice was needed to verify exactly who Elizondo was. Lee also claimed the FERPA rights of the students would have been violated for the students whose parents had not signed papers to allow photos or video to be taken of their child.

Elizondo declined an interview request from Pronews 7. Booker Schools will release a statement this evening.