By JIM BUTLER
The School Board today will consider adopting policy “coordinating news coverage of the school district.”
It’s not so draconian a reminder as loose lips sink ships but the proposal does create a yellow caution light for media communications.
The Community Engagement Coordinator’s Office would have the responsibility of initially sorting need to know, right to know and want to know aspects of communications between the system and the media.
According to the system personnel directory, Mary Helen Downey holds that post. Her background includes a degree with print journalism concentration from LSU’s Manship School, a Master’s from NSU in education and 10+ years as a classroom teacher.
The proposed policy includes responsibility for initiating story ideas as well as responding to coverage requests from the media or from within the district.
Assistance to administrators regarding effective relationships with the Fourth Estate would also be part of the CEC Office task.
According to the draft submitted to the board, the Superintendent or his/her designee and the President of the School Board shall serve as the primary spokesperson for the district on all matters of district-wide interest.
The principal shall be the primary spokesperson regarding issues related to his or her individual school.
If a designated district or school spokesperson is contacted by the news media for comment on a specific issue, the spokesperson may directly respond, provided that he/she has the necessary information to address the issue.
Otherwise, the policy directs, he/she should contact the CEC Office before responding to the news media.
General guidelines include:
• The privacy of a student or employee is the foremost concern when working with the news media and must be considered prior to the release of any information.
• If there is no prior clearance from the CEC Office or the network executive director, names of students should never be released under any circumstance without prior parental consent or the consent of the student if he or she is 18 years of age or older.
• Names of students involved in accidents or emergency situations shall not be released; news media should be referred to the receiving hospital or law enforcement for such information.
• Home addresses and telephone numbers of students, private citizens, and those RPSB employees who have restricted home addresses and telephone numbers are not to be provided.
Media requests (state public records act)for district records or Freedom of Information Act (federal law) requests shall be submitted in writing (state and federal law) and referred to the Office of the Superintendent (presumed designated custodian of records; laws stipulate time and manner of response).