LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / February 5, 2000

LULING – Managing the media is a concern of school districts across America in the aftermath of the Columbine High School shootings last year, prompting the St. Charles School Board to develop a policy to head off potentialproblems.

Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon said part of the purpose of the policy’sdevelopment was to enlist the media’s help in defusing any negative impact associated with a crisis.

The policy was approved at first reading at Wednesday’s school board meeting and is up for final consideration at the Feb. 16 meeting.In the event of a schoolwide emergency, according to the policy, access to the school grounds, employees and students would be sharply restricted.

Due to confidentiality laws concerning students and school system personnel, the school district will not release photographs, addresses or phone numbers of any student or staff member involved in the crisis.

“You’ll probably get it anyway,” public information officer Rochelle Touchard said, “but it won’t come from us.”Students and employees, in case of a crisis, will not grant interviews on campus. If a student unaccompanied by a parent is being harassed by themedia, police can step in to protect the student and end the interview.

Designated spokesperson is the Public Information Officer for External Communications, with several alternatives listed, who would work directly with the media to control access to information under approval of the superintendent and coordinate information with families of victims.

The spokesperson may designate specific reporters to deal with and reserves the right to select which reporter for a news outlet to whom they will grant interviews.

In addition, the policy includes information management for parents and will advise affected parents, employees and students in case of a crisis as to how to deal with media.

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