![\"Orange](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCPS-Vazquez-1200-x-800-1024x683.png\")
Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez speaks during the district’s 2026 State of the Schools address on June 2 at Edgewater High School. <\/p>\nOrange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez speaks during the district’s 2026 State of the Schools address on June 2 at Edgewater High School. <\/p>\n
Courtesy of Orange County Public Schools<\/p>\n
A coalition of Central Florida\u00a0media\u00a0organizations, including\u00a0The Apopka Chief<\/a>, has formally asked Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) to revise a media policy that journalists say restricts employee speech and hinders the public\u2019s access to information.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Society of Professional Journalists\u00a0(SPJ)\u00a0sent the letter to\u00a0OCPS Superintendent Maria Vazquez<\/a>\u00a0Monday on behalf of 11 area media outlets. The organizations requested a response and meeting by June 18, giving the district\u00a010 days\u00a0to address their concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOCPS owes its staff, students and the public a commitment to transparency and to honor the expressive rights of its employees,\u201d SPJ\u2019s Anne Marie Tamburro wrote in a cover letter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Become A Member<\/p>\n The Apopka Chief does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible.<\/p>\n See Member Benefits<\/a>Join Our Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n The coalition\u2019s attached letter, prepared by the Florida State University College of Law First Amendment Clinic, argues that OCPS Management Directive B-5 \u201csuppresses press freedoms, restricts speech, limits the flow of information to the community, and chills First Amendment-protected speech.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to SPJ, the coalition includes The Apopka Chief, The Orlando Sentinel, OrangeObserver.com,\u00a0The\u00a0West Orange Times & Observer,\u00a0The Southwest Orange Observer,\u00a0The Local Winter Garden, Oviedo Community News,\u00a0VoxPopuli, Baldwin Park Living Magazine\u00a0and\u00a0The Shepherd Radio.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe value our relationship with Orange County Public Schools and the role it plays in serving the broader community,\u201d the letter says. \u201cThat relationship depends on the free flow of information. We write to preserve and strengthen this fruitful relationship moving forward.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The coalition letter\u00a0states\u00a0that, while the policy may have been adopted with good intentions, its \u201crestrictions hinder our ability to gather and report news.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The organizations cited examples they say\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0the policy\u2019s practical effects, including multiple outlets being denied access to the superintendent.\u00a0According to the letter, school officials acknowledged that the policy would prevent a teacher from sharing the date and time of a middle-school band concert with the press. The letter also describes an instance in which a school employee expressed\u00a0fear\u00a0that the district\u2019s communications department would react\u00a0negatively if the employee inadvertently crossed a line while speaking with reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n Management Directive B-5, approved July 30, 2025, outlines procedures for media access and communication. Among other provisions, the policy requires principals to notify supervisors and Media Relations when contacted by the media, requires prior approval for media access to school campuses, and states that members of the media must be accompanied by an administrator while on school property.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the government may regulate employees\u2019 speech made within their official duties, such restrictions cannot be absolute,\u201d\u00a0the letter says,\u00a0citing multiple\u00a0court opinions.\u00a0\u201cThe [OCPS]\u00a0Media Policy\u00a0raises concerns regarding the well-established right of\u00a0government\u00a0employees to\u00a0speak\u00a0freely on\u00a0matters of\u00a0public\u00a0concern.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0organizations are proposing revisions that would encourage employees to notify public information officials about media inquiries without requiring prior approval before speaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome your response and the opportunity to meet to discuss a revised policy that suggests, rather than requires, that District\u00a0employees\u00a0loop in the\u00a0[public information officer]\u00a0on media inquiries,\u201d the coalition letter states.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Apopka Chief Publisher J.C. Derrick said local school coverage depends on\u00a0timely\u00a0access to information and communication with school personnel.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCovering local schools is a vital part of what we do at The Apopka Chief,\u201d Derrick said. \u201cWe are hopeful that this letter will lead to better outcomes for our community as we seek to tell more of the good news coming out of OCPS.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/6.png\")
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