Volusia school district backpedals on media restrictions, but information is still scarce – Daytona Beach News-Journal

It was a miscommunication.

By now, that'san age-old story for the Volusia County school district, with an obvious difference this year: during the coronavirus pandemic, access to information can feel like life or death.

In that contextit was alarming to some when district leaders sent what looked like an attempt to muzzlestaff, reminding them not to speak to the media without checking with the district's spokeswoman.

How can we, as public school teachers who are mandated to provide a free space and high quality education to children, be prohibited from sharing the truth about whats going on in our classrooms? teachers union president Elizabeth Albert asked.

More: As COVID-19 quarantine rumors swirl, Volusia schools are mum

District leaders later said the intent was to remind high-level employees to use the districts spokeswoman to present factual information on the school systems behalf, particularly about the coronavirus pandemic. But government agencies also often employ such messagesto keep employees from speaking to the press about anything.

And even as district officialspledge more transparency, staff members and parents are still waiting for information about the extent of the coronavirus pandemic in schools, about delays in accessing virtual school courses and about whats really going on in schools that are more closed off than usual during the coronavirus pandemic.

It leads people to be suspicious, Albert said. And I dont think thats what we want with our educational system.

Interim Superintendent Carmen Balgobin sent a memo to principals and department heads on Sept. 4 and requested that they share the information with all staff members, according to an email obtained by The News-Journal.

To ensure we are delivering a clear and precise message, all media communications need to be facilitated through the office of Community Information, Kelly Schulz, the memo read.

Later, School Board Chairwoman Ida Wright explained it was at her request that Balgobin sent the memo. After The News-Journal reported that the district was not planning to publish COVID-19 case information and it became national news, Wright said school administrators, district staff and board members were all fielding inquiries from members of the community and the media even as the School Board and district attorney were researching the best course of action.

So she wanted to make sure those requests were going through Schulz, who would have the most updated and accurate information as the districts spokeswoman.

The News-Journalshared the memo on Twitter that same day, along with information about what rights district employees have when it comes to talking to the media. From there theinformation was shared in local Facebook groups and by reporters for other local media outlets.

Hours later, Schulz sent a statement from Balgobin via email. It reads in full:

The memo you have referenced was intended to be sent to our administrators to follow our existing media contact protocols. It is important for the school district to protect the operation of schools from substantial disruption and misinformation. As a result of this, we handle all internal communications through our Public Information Office. In no way was this intended to instruct employees on matters of their private concern protected by the First Amendment.

The News-Journal requested an interview with Balgobin, who referred to the above statement.

Wright said that when she asked Balgobin to address the issue with staff, she was thinking specifically about the sharing of coronavirus case information something the district has been widely criticized for not sharing in recent days.

We just want to have one person speaking on behalf of the district, Wright said. I think thats what she was trying to communicate.

But thats not what the memo, addressed to all staff, actually said. And although similar memos are common from government entities, one First Amendment expert said thats not the effect they have.

A memo like this would be very intimidating to an employee, said Frank LoMonte, director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information and journalism professor at the University of Florida.

Im reading this memo and it doesnt say all media communications in your official job capacity it says all media communications, he said. The message could not be clearer that employees are expected to clear every interaction with the news media, not just officially assigned interactions.

School districts and other public employers cannot prevent employees from speaking to the media about their experiences. They can prohibit employees from speaking on behalf of the organization, as a spokesperson, or from sharing confidential information the districtis required to maintain.

Wright said it was never the goal to be punitive toemployees, but rather to let them know the procedure. Schulz did not respond to a question from The News-Journal about whether employees who speak to the media could face punishment.

But LoMonte said the intent may not be able to overcome the effect of the memo.

In the eyes of an employee, he said, when you get a memo on official letterhead that is signed by your ultimate boss, that feels like something you cant disobey.

Communication is not only a point of contention in the Volusia County school district, where School Board members fired itssuperintendent over such concerns barely a year ago. During the coronavirus pandemic, its a topic thats being debated hotly statewide.

State agencies have conflicting ideas about what information is able to be made public, and by whom, causing districts like Volusia County to take conservative approaches lest they make a misstep and face legal action.

More: Start of school in Volusia means expected stranglehold on coronavirus case information

More: Volusia Schools to publish coronavirus case information; 8 cases so far in 4 locations

In reporting case information, the district shares numbers twice a week as well as a list of affected schools. But how many cases are at which schools, and how many students or classrooms have been advised to quarantine, is not available. The district last week refused to confirm or deny rumors about entire classrooms being advised to quarantine at schools.

At the School Board meeting last week, district officials applauded themselves and district staff for a successful first week of school. That wasfollowed by presentations of information and public commenters that painted a dissenting picture.

More: Volusia School Board celebrates successful 1st week of school; others protest

Albert also pointed to conflicts in the implementation of the districts mask policy, assertions that students would be social distancing during the school day when it's largely impossible, and mixed messages about how equitable education is for students who attend school in-person and remotely.

Im just disappointed, Albertsaid. The district to me is toocowardly to admit when something needs to be corrected and theyd rather silence folks from talking about it.

Wright said the district is working on developing more regular ways to communicate with the community, including more frequent press conferences.

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Volusia school district backpedals on media restrictions, but information is still scarce - Daytona Beach News-Journal