Civil servants have an obligation to answer all questions (with very limited exceptions) from taxpayers, and all citizens may see all paperwork in the school's files, announcements, instructions to teachers from administrators, lesson plans, correspondence, personnel files, etc. I refer you to the law as this is relevant to rebut some idea you have that whatever is going on at school, whether or not you have children there or children involved, is not your business and is an intrusion on the school if you question them and they have no obligation to respond. That is totally false.
When O'Neill asked questions about a protest happening on school grounds, which the taxpayer owns, he should have received polite, complete answers. And, unless he was acting crazy or threatening, which does not seem to be the case although you see him as an "obstinate pr***", he should have never been told to leave the premises.
Regarding your "I pay your salary" rant; police, and other government officials enforce laws and you as a citizen have an obligation to follow the law. So, yes, you cannot break the law because you pay the salary of the enforcers. This example has no application to the situation we are discussing. O'Neil had the right to ask the questions and the school employees have laws and regulations they must obey which require them to give complete disclosure of activity at the school.
Yes, I certainly have confronted school officials who tried through intimidation not to give me the information I wanted and they were legally bound (a criminal misdemeanor if they don't) to supply. I knew the law. It didn't work for them.
If that situation was described accurately, the school was in the wrong by allowing a protest on the school grounds, during school hours, and not providing the public information about it when questioned. The reporter had every right to be there and to ask questions. What do you think about "school not sponsoring it" and your Once he learned that it was not a school sanctioned event, he should have just stepped back and let the officials handle it. , when it was held on the school property, during school hours, with particiaption of school employees? That's blindingly stupid.