Two Important Reminders on Media Interviews and Legal FERPA Responsibilities for Staff

The purpose of this message is to review two important topics relating to press/media relations.

If you in your role as an employee are contacted by a member of the press for a statement or information about Bloomfield Hills Schools or any of our programs, please contact the communications department before responding. I can be reached via email at khuyghe@bloomfield.org if this happens. I can also be reached at 248.220.0866 if there is a time-sensitive request or concern. There are a few exceptions, such as a coach of a winning team or club being interviewed on location reflecting on the result of the game/activity. If you’d like some tips and best practices if you think you might be in a situation such as this, please let us know at communications@bloomfield.org.

Every year as part of the online registration process, parents/guardians select if they approve 11 categories under FERPA. FERPA allows schools and districts to designate certain basic student information as directory information, and share that information without consent if certain additional requirements are met.

The primary purpose of directory information is to allow Bloomfield Hills Schools to include information from a student’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

• Newsletters
• Newspaper articles about student accomplishments
• A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production
• The annual yearbook
• Honor roll or other recognition lists
• Graduation programs
• Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team member.

For our classroom teachers and school office staff - it’s important to know which students are approved or not approved before taking and sharing photos and publishing the items listed above.