Media Guidelines
Media requests and public information requests should be sent to:
Director of Communications Suzy Henke
420 Springfield Pike, Wyoming, OH 45215
513-206-7015
henkes@wyomingcityschools.org
Wyoming City Schools recognizes the important role the media plays in reporting news and information about our policies, programs, services, events, students, and employees. The Director of Communications is committed to providing district information to the media and making every effort to work within media deadlines.
All media requests to interview, videotape or photograph Wyoming City Schools employees, students, or board members must be made through the Communications Office. When requests for student interviews are granted, the interview will be conducted at a district-designated site to minimize the loss of instructional time and disruption to the learning environment.
Visiting the District
Wyoming City Schools welcomes members of the media to visit our schools in order to follow through on stories. Members of the media are expected to notify the Director of Communications prior to gaining access to school property. As a safety and security precaution, the media will be asked to sign-in and present valid identification.
When videotaping, taking a still photograph, or conducting interviews while in the school district, the Director of Communications (or designee) will accompany the media at all times to minimize disruption at the school and to assist with any additional requests.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Wyoming City Schools abides by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which allows students and parents to opt out of the release of certain information about students, including photographs. The Director of Communications works with each school to determine who cannot be photographed and/or interviewed according to FERPA guidelines.
School Board Meetings
Members of the media are invited to attend all open meetings of the Wyoming City Schools Board of Education. Media may videotape and/or record these meetings. To avoid disruption of the meeting, members of the media are asked to not approach board members, guest speakers, or members of the audience inside the boardroom during the meeting. Copies of the board agenda are available online.
Audio or video recordings are permitted. It is requested that the person operating the recorder contact the Superintendent prior to the board meeting to review possible placement of the equipment and agree to abide by the following conditions:
- No obstructions are created between the Board and the audience.
- No interviews are conducted in the meeting room while the Board is in session.
- No commentary, adjustment of equipment, or positioning of operators is made that would distract either the Board or members of the audience while the Board is in session and not disrupt the meeting.
Emergencies
It is the practice of Wyoming City Schools to work as cooperatively as possible to provide timely information to the media on any emergency and its impact on students and staff members, provided the release of information does not jeopardize emergency response activities, or conflict with FERPA, the well-being of our students and employees, or the concerns of their families. Members of the media may be assigned to a designated site to ensure full access to the emergency by emergency response teams.
The Director of Communications will work as quickly as possible to provide accurate information to the media through a spokesperson, written release or statement, or news briefings.