3145 -- Community Relations

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SUBJECT:  COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

The Board of Education recognizes the importance of timely and useful communication with parents and the public. 

The District will maintain a public information/communications program in order to promote widespread understanding of its mission, strategic goals, and initiatives and to provide a conduit for feedback from the community. Along with traditional media and print communications tools, District and school news may be shared with residents and staff members through a variety of methods, including video, e-mail, text messages and internet-based vehicles (i.e. Web sites and social networks). News releases shall be approved and released through the office of the Superintendent.

The ability of the District or an individual school to take full advantage of these tools plays a vital role in relating important information to our community and parents. Administrators, teachers and other school personnel shall use these tools only for official school/District business directly related to instruction and school programs.

Release of student information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The District is required to give public notice to parents of the types of information designated as directory information, and of the right to opt out of having a child’s information so designated and disclosed. Under FERPA, schools are permitted to disclose information on students if it has been properly designated as directory information. By law, directory information includes things that would generally not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed, such as name, address, photograph, and date of birth. Directory information may not include things such as a student’s social security number or grades.

The Shenendehowa Board of Education has designated the following as student directory information: name, photograph, age, teacher, grade level, honors and awards received, student work/projects, participation in officially recognized school activities and sports, and height and weight of members of athletic teams. All other student information will not be released without written consent from the parent.

Parents may request that the aforementioned student directory information designated by the Board of Education not be released to any person without their prior written consent (opt-out) by sending a letter to the principal annually prior to the first day of school.

NOTE:

Refer to Regulation 3145R Communications and Public Information regulation

Refer to Policy 6180 Staff-Student Relations (Fraternization)

Adopted: April 3, 2012