School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 7-6

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Relations with the News Media

A. Generally

The School Board of the City of Virginia Beach desires to cooperate with the news media in providing the public with pertinent facts concerning the division schools. The Superintendent shall establish a basic and reliable source to which the news media may turn to for information regarding the division schools.

B. Attendance at Board Meetings

The Board encourages the attendance of the news media at all open board meetings.

C. Interviews/Photographs/Videotaping

The Board permits the interviewing/photographing/filming of students and teachers during the school day only if the interviews, in the judgment of the principal or superintendent, do not disrupt the educational program or tend to cause undue confusion. Parental permission will be required to interview/photograph/film students under age eighteen (18). Crowd shots that are not meant to individually identify students will be exempt from the parental permission requirement. Parental permission, for the purpose of this policy, will be defined as a parent or guardian’s signature on the Parent Acknowledgement Form distributed with the annual School Handbook or by parent/guardian signature on an individual release form.

D. Athletic Contests and Student Performances

The Superintendent may permit the broadcasting of athletic contests and student performances by radio or television provided that the broadcast is done as a public service or that the sponsor of the broadcast is appropriate. As such events are generally open to the public to attend and photograph, parental release forms will not be required in such instances.

E. Student Participation in Radio or Television

When given approval by the Superintendent or his designee, students may participate in radio or television programs if the program's objectives are to educate the public concerning the public schools or to provide a learning experience for the participating students. Written parental permission must be secured for any student (under age 18) being interviewed, photographed or videotaped prior to the student's participation, unless the appropriate Parental Acknowledgement Form is on file in the student’s school.

It shall be clearly understood that the Board does not endorse the product or products of any sponsor.

Editor’s Notes

See Policy 5-66: Student Directory Information
See Policy 5-31: Student Records
20 U.S.C. §1232 (h) - Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
20 U.S.C. §1232 (g) - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

Adopted by School Board: October 21, 1969
Amended by School Board: November 18, 1986
Amended by School Board: August 21, 1990
Amended by School Board: July 16, 1991
Amended by School Board: October 20, 1992
Amended by School Board: May 15, 2004