Did you know our community has multiple Facebook groups and pages where local news and discussions take place? These spaces can be valuable for sharing information and staying connected. Many great things happen in these groups but as we all know, discussions can sometimes take a turn, leading to incomplete or misleading narratives.
At times, the school or our staff may find themselves at the center of these conversations. This often raises the question: Why doesn’t the school respond or share “the real story”?
The answer comes down to something incredibly important – privacy laws. Schools are legally bound by strict regulations, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Oklahoma state statutes. These laws exist to protect student privacy, ensure safety, and safeguard personnel records. Because of this, the district is often unable to publicly correct or clarify certain claims made on social media.
We understand that open discussion is important, and we encourage our community to seek accurate information directly from the district when questions arise. However, even when individuals reach out, these same privacy laws may prevent us from sharing specific details. While this can be frustrating, please know that our commitment to student and staff privacy isn’t just a legal requirement, but a responsibility we take seriously.
Even when we can’t provide every detail, rest assured that every decision we make is guided by the best interests of our students, staff, and community. We appreciate your understanding and your trust as we continue working together for the success of our schools.
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