The County Board recognizes that as a public agency, LACOE has a responsibility to be open and responsive to information requests from the news media. Public awareness of LACOE and its work is vital to LACOE's accountability and success. The news media are a major vehicle for communicating with LACOE's various publics.
News media representatives are welcome at all County Board meetings, and shall receive meeting agendas upon request in accordance with Board policy. Media representatives, like all other visitors, shall register immediately upon entering any Educational Program school building or grounds when school is in session.
The County Board is committed to protecting the privacy of students and their families. The County Board shall not release information that is private or confidential as required by law or County Board policy. Media requests relating to LACOE employees or to student directory information shall be referred to the County Superintendent.
(cf. 9322 - Agenda/Meeting Materials)
Interviewing and Photographing Students
The County Board encourages LACOE school site administrators to make every effort to accommodate the reasonable requests of legitimate news media for access to our campuses as long as that access does not disrupt the peaceful conduct of educational activities. In addition, many LACOE students (e.g., Juvenile Court wards, youth with disabilities) have specific confidentiality rights that must be considered and appropriate protocols followed before news media may be granted access to interview, photograph, or videotape these minors.
The County Board shall not impose restraints on students' right to speak freely with media representatives. However, interviewing and photographing students shall not create substantial disruption to the orderly operation of the school or impinge on the rights or safety of students. Therefore, the County Board encourages media representatives who wish to interview or photograph students at school to make prior arrangements with the County Superintendent or designee.
(cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression)
Media Relations Protocol
The County Board President, in conjunction with the County Superintendent or his/her designee, shall authorize public statements to be made on behalf of the County Board.
All public statements on behalf of the County Board shall be made by the County Board President, the designee or, if appropriate, by the County Superintendent.
(cf. 9240 - Board Development)
(cf. 9010 - Public Statements)
Crisis Communications Plan
LACOE's strategic communications plan shall also incorporate strategies for effective communications during an emergency, disaster, or other crisis situation.
During a disturbance or crisis situation, the first priority of LACOE personnel is to assure the safety of students and staff. However, the County Board recognizes the need to provide timely and accurate information to school districts, parents/guardians, the community, and media during a crisis.
(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)
(cf. 3516 - Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Plan)
The County Superintendent or the Director of Communications shall include county public health agencies, county emergency operations agencies, county and local law enforcement, administrative and emergency personnel in county school districts in the crisis planning process.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
32210-32212 Willful disturbance of public school or meeting
35144 Special meetings
35145 Public meetings
35160 Authority of governing boards
35172 Promotional activities
EVIDENCE CODE
1070 Refusal to disclose news source
PENAL CODE
627-627.10 Access to school premises
COURT DECISIONS
Lopez v. Tulare Joint Union High School District, (1995) 34 Cal.App.4th 1302
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS
95 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 509 (1996)
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
911: A Manual for Schools and the Media During a Campus Crisis, 2001
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
Policy LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
adopted: October 15, 2019 Downey, California