2000 2110

Community Relations

WFL/EB

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services shall support the following goals of community relations:

1. To develop and maintain the confidence of the community in the BOCES and its staff;
2. To stimulate public interest in the schools and public understanding of BOCES Programs;
3. To discover what people think, what they want to know, correct erroneous impressions and supply desired information;
4. To develop the most effective means of communication with the various publics of the BOCES component school districts, and community;
5. To encourage and facilitate effective communication between staff and provide information to expand knowledge of BOCES programs and services.

It is essential that the Board and the BOCES staff keep component boards of education informed as to policies and programs that might affect their educational processes. As much as possible, the BOCES staff and the Board should attempt to provide written and/or oral communication to the Superintendents and board members of component districts on any matter that might affect them, including agendas and minutes of the BOCES meetings.

The Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES staff members shall make every effort to provide Board members with written communications regarding significant items prior to the Board meetings. Communications shall be forwarded via the District Superintendent.

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services and staff shall attempt to keep the various communities informed of school activities so that the communities shall be aware of what is occurring in the schools and shall be able to support the activities. Communications involving Board policy shall have prior approval by the District Superintendent or his/her designee.

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2000 2120

Community Relations

The Board of Education shall encourage wide distribution of printed materials, including, but not limited to, newsletters, news releases, budget statements and brochures.

The Board encourages the development of appropriate materials and publications that are of direct use in the educational process in component schools which inform the public, member districts, BOCES personnel, and the teaching profession concerning policies, activities, and accomplishments of Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES and which aid and promote the improvement of education.

The responsibility for maintaining relationships with the media, releasing news and serving as the BOCES spokesperson lies with the Public Information Office. For issues of sensitivity, the District Superintendent or his/her designee shall be consulted before release.

The use of the copyright law for selected materials produced through the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES will be implemented for specific classes of items when recommended to the Board of Education by the District Superintendent. All unpublished materials will have copyright identification protected under common law literary property.

All publications, video-tapes, and software disks which are developed by staff at Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES or persons/agencies under contract to Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES are the property of Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES.

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2000 2130

Community Relations

When a crisis arises, immediate, effective and responsible management and communication can resolve the crisis and maintain the organization’s integrity and credibility. Therefore, the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES shall develop and maintain a unified position by:

1. Identifying a crisis response team to develop a plan and maintain a strong, ongoing communications program in each building.
2. Identifying a media spokesperson who will be briefed on all details. The spokesperson shall be the District Superintendent or his/her designee. The designee shall be the Public Information Manager. Only these spokespersons shall talk to and maintain a timely flow of information to the media.

The Superintendent/designee shall be responsible for informing staff of the crisis plan which is to be developed by both administration and the crisis response team.

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2000 2140

Community Relations

WFL/EB

In the event it is necessary to close school for the day for inclement weather or other emergency reasons, announcement thereof shall be made over local radio stations and other communications media.

While schools are in session, in the event of an emergency or an act of nature, the District Superintendent/designee may choose to close one or more buildings in the BOCES. The District Superintendent/designee shall place the safety of students as the primary consideration in the closing of any school building.

The District Superintendent/designee is also empowered to close BOCES offices and other non-student-related services when in his/her discretion conditions warrant the closing.

Staff attendance will be governed by contract and/or emergency response to the situation by the District Superintendent or his/her designee.

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2000 2150

Community Relations

In keeping with State Education Law and Executive Law, the Cooperative Board accepts its duty to display the United States flag upon or near each BOCES building during school hours, weather permitting, and such other times as the statutes may require or the Board may direct.

When ordered by the President, Governor, or local official, to commemorate a tragic event or the death of an outstanding individual, the flag shall be flown at half-staff. The District Superintendent's approval shall be required for the flag to be flown at half-staff upon any other occasion.

Education Law Sections 418 and 419

Executive Law Section 403