“Informing the Public Involves the Community”
Trish McDermott, Senior Communications Officer
2020 Bonar Street, Suite 321, Berkeley, CA 94702
Tel: 510.644.6320 | Fax: 510.540.5358
To make an inquiry about our district or to submit a California Public Records Act Request, please contact the Public Information Office at 510-644-6320, or send an email to: PIO@berkeley.net
Department Overview
The BUSD Public Information Office (PIO) is responsible for district-level internal and external communications, district website content, district social media, and media relations. The PIO supports community engagement and special events; prepares and distributes press releases and media advisories regarding BUSD news, events, and activities of interest to the citizens of Berkeley; and can assist our staff, district committees, and parent group chairs in responding to media inquiries. The PIO can also be a source for general information about the district.
Because the media, parents and other community members often contact the Public Information Office from or about individual school sites, it is important that schools provide the PIO Office with news about school events and activities.
Stay Informed About BUSD
- Sign up to receive the A+ News (in English or Spanish)
- Read the Community Report
- Follow BUSD on X (Twitter)
- Follow BUSD on Facebook
District Policy for Responding to Requests for Information from the Media
The district is committed to helping reporters get the best possible information for their stories about our public schools in a timely way, with minimal disruption to school programs. The following guide offers more information on how the Public Information Office can interact with the media:
- BUSD is legally obligated to adhere to all provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. As such, BUSD cannot release any information which would be included in the student’s educational records. This includes information around individual student’s enrollment and/or behavioral records.
- Media inquiries about specific incidents, inquiries in police-related matters or activities that have taken place off school grounds and not during the regular school day, should be referred to the Public Information Office.
- Media visits to BUSD property, including school sites:
- All BUSD guests and visitors, media included, are required to obtain the principal’s permission to visit the school site. This can be obtained via email in advance or in person. Advance notice is strongly recommended.
- Once at the school site, all BUSD guests and visitors, media included, are required to register at the front office and receive a visitor pass, which shall be displayed at all times during the visit.
- All BUSD guests and visitors, media included, will be escorted by BUSD staff at all times while on school property.
- As a rule, the media (with the principal’s permission) may take overall shots of students without permission slips, so long as the students are not identified or singled out.
- In order to interview or take photos of individual students at a BUSD school or facility, or to use a student’s name or their work, our media partners must work with the PIO in order to obtain advance parental permission.
- All BUSD guests and visitors, media included, are prohibited from interrupting classes or in any way disturbing instructional minutes.
- All BUSD guests and visitors, media included, are required to follow the instructions of the principal or designee during the visit to school sites.
For more information about media presence in schools, please see:
- Board Policy 1250: Visitor/Outsiders
- California Penal Code: Access to School Premises
- Legal Opinion California Attorney General No. 95-509
- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
District Communications Policies
The BUSD Board of Education has developed board policies regarding district communications and information:
