The Elmira City School District (ECSD) seeks to provide the highest quality communication with families and public in helpful and transparent ways. The news media play an important role in public information. As such, ECSD Office of Public Information will coordinate with members of the press to respond to media inquiries to the best of our ability providing timely and complete information on non-confidential matters.
The Superintendent of Schools, or designees, serve as the official spokesperson(s) for the Elmira City School District media relations program. As designated by the Superintendent of Schools, the Office of Public Information will work with district staff to coordinate responses to media inquiries.
Media inquiries are to be received by the Office of Public Information. When ECSD staff receive a media inquiry directly, they should notify the Office of Public Information as soon as possible.
General Media Guidelines
All members of the news media should contact the Office of Public Information to:
● Arrange for access to administrative personnel and schools for interviews;
● Seek official statements regarding District matters; or
● Request to get "b-roll" footage of students walking through hallways, in the cafeteria, etc. on a school site. All such recordings must be done in such a way that no one student can be identified in order to protect those students without media releases.
NOTE: Timeliness of the information or interview request may affect the ability of the District to comply with the request; therefore requests should be submitted sufficiently in advance to allow coordination in light of the requestor’s deadline or proposed coverage date and time.
Media on School or District Property
● Visits to District buildings by media representatives should be coordinated through the Office of Public Information and conducted in the company of the Public Information Coordinator, a site administrator, or a principal or their designee to ensure student and staff safety and privacy.
● Coordination of all news conferences and District-wide events will be through the Office of Public Information.
● Media representatives are considered visitors and must follow District policy when visiting District schools and offices. All media are required to check in at the main office prior to any media activity.
● Media who wish to conduct parent/guardian interviews or get video footage of District buildings are asked to do so outside of District buildings, with appropriate permissions, unless otherwise arranged with the Public Information Office. This is to avoid disrupting the learning environment and to avoid blocking any entryways.
Photography And Filming
● Photography or filming (including videotaping or creating digital images) by members of the news media may not take place at a school location without the prior consent of the Office of Public Information and school principal or representative.
● Filming, videotaping, or photographing students at a school location by media sources is allowed only if there is a signed parental consent form or release form for each child who participates in such activity.
● Filming, videotaping, or photographing students at a school location who are engaged in a public facing activity (i.e. athletics, fine arts performances, etc.) does not require signed parental consent or release forms.
Contact for the Office of Public Information
Beth Manwaring
Public Information Coordinator
Elmira City School District
607-735-3091
bmanwaring [@] elmiracityschools.com