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Credit: via Shutterstock<\/p>\nCredit: via Shutterstock<\/p>\n
A coalition of news organizations and a press freedom group have penned a letter to Orange County Public Schools, urging district leadership to revise a policy it has for employee communications with the media.<\/p>\n
The June 8 letter<\/a> \u2014 signed by the Orlando Sentinel, Oviedo Community News, Vox Populi, The Apopka Chief and the Society for Professional Journalists, among others \u2014 argues the media policy, as is, \u201chinders newsgathering, restricts employees\u2019 speech, and reduces public transparency.\u201d The letter is directed to OCPS superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez.<\/p>\n The district\u2019s media policy<\/a>, last amended in July 2025, requires school district employees to contact a dedicated media spokesperson for the district before talking to a reporter themselves. <\/p>\n The letter from news organizations (note: Orlando Weekly is not a signatory) argues this employee directive chills free speech rights, delays the gathering and publication of news and disrupts the flow of information to the community.<\/p>\n \u201cA more balanced approach \u2014 one that protects transparency while addressing legitimate operational needs \u2014 would better serve Orange County Public Schools, its employees, and the surrounding community,\u201d the letter reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome your response and the opportunity to meet to discuss a revised policy that suggests, rather than requires, that District employees loop in the PIO [public information officer] on media inquiries \u2014 shifting from a prior-approval requirement to a notice-based approach that allows for coordination without restricting speech.\u201d<\/p>\n The coalition\u2019s letter was prepared by the Florida State University College of Law First Amendment Clinic, according to the Apopka Chief. The call-to-action is part of the Society for Professional Journalists\u2019 \u201cGagged<\/a>\u201d project \u2014 an initiative that aims to shine a spotlight on government policies that restrict press freedoms and a reasonable flow of pertinent information to the public.<\/p>\n \u201cA public agency may decide to authorize only certain employees to speak officially on its behalf, but that does not mean it can censor everyone else who works for the agency from talking with reporters,\u201d said Caroline Hendrie, executive director of SPJ, in a statement. \u201cIt is past time for leaders of government agencies at all levels \u2014 school districts among them \u2014 to show they reject such misguided gag rules and respect their employees\u2019 right to free speech.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Orange County Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in Florida serving more than 200,000 students, disputed the coalition\u2019s framing in its own response.\u00a0 \u201cOrange County Public Schools fully recognizes and respects the vital role of a free press,\u201d the district argued in a letter shared with Orlando Weekly Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n \u201cOur procedures are not intended to suppress speech or limit transparency, but rather to ensure that information shared on behalf of the district is accurate, consistent, and does not disrupt our primary mission of educating students.\u201d<\/p>\n The district argued that its policy for employee communications with reporters is meant to minimize school disruptions, ensure that information shared in an official district capacity is \u201cfactual and complete,\u201d and protect student confidentiality.<\/p>\n The coalition of news organizations, however, cited two examples of how the district\u2019s media policy has hindered reporters\u2019 ability to disseminate information to the public about the school system. <\/p>\n \u2014 The letter cites one example where an Orange County school employee, after sharing \u201cbasic\u201d information with a reporter, \u201cquickly regretted it, saying \u201c[the] press department would eat [him\/her] alive\u201d if he\/she \u201caccidentally crossed a line.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 The letter alleges that school officials also \u201cacknowledged\u201d that a teacher would be prohibited from sharing information about a school band concert with the press, due to the media policy, even though that information was not confidential and had already been \u201cfreely shared\u201d by students with parents, neighbors and friends. <\/p>\n \u201cMultiple media outlets have also been flatly denied access to the superintendent,\u201d the letter adds.<\/p>\n The coalition urged OCPS to consider suggesting, rather than requiring, school district employees to \u201cloop\u201d official district spokespeople into conversations with press. The coalition also asked OCPS to ensure its policy makes it clear that employees won\u2019t be disciplined for talking to the press, and communicate that employees have the right to speak as private citizens on matters of public concern \u2014 outside their capacity as district employees \u2014 under their First Amendment rights to free speech.<\/p>\n Reporters on an education beat (i.e., whose job is to report on education-related issues) may seek to speak with school employees about issues ranging from behavioral problems among students<\/a> to falling grades and reading levels<\/a> to teacher pay not keeping up with rising living costs<\/a>, and other challenges such as declines in student enrollment\u00a0 that prompt the district to close schools<\/a> and shed staff<\/a>.<\/p>\n Clinton McCracken, an art teacher and president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, told Orlando Weekly in a statement that their union supports efforts to create greater transparency and fairness.<\/p>\n \u201cEducators are often expected to remain silent on issues that directly impact their profession, their students and their working conditions,\u201d he acknowledged, adding that \u201cthe public has the right to hear directly from educators who have firsthand knowledge of what is happening inside our schools without fear of censorship and retaliation.\u201d<\/p>\n Teachers, he explained, may worry that speaking openly about their jobs could affect their evaluations and their ability to retain their job, or even affect future job opportunities in the district. \u201cHealthy public institutions require openness, accountability, and the willingness to hear from employees, families, and community members most impacted by district decisions. Educators deserve the same opportunity to be heard as any other stakeholder in this community.\u201d<\/p>\n The Orange County school district noted in its response to the coalition\u2019s letter that the district is \u201ccommitted\u201d to reviewing its current procedures \u201cto ensure they are clearly understood and appropriately applied.\u201d<\/p>\n The district also committed to providing \u201ctimely responses\u201d to the media, reinforcing media training for staff (so they feel \u201cconfident and supported\u201d in talking to press), and engaging with media professionals to \u201cstrengthen our working relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n Related Stories<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tAll districts already have an \u201cInternet Safety\u201d policy in place, and now the DOE is requiring districts to amend the policy to include AI\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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