Behind the Scenes of BISD Communications
Why Official Updates Take Longer Than Social Media
During an emergency, unofficial news often travels faster than official updates. While it can be frustrating to wait, the School District follows a specific process to ensure the information you receive is accurate, legal, and safe.
How the District Communicates During an Incident
- Gathering facts: When an emergency occurs, the school(s) and the district strive to communicate factual information to the public as quickly as possible. But as no two situations are alike, there are often details we need to verify. This can involve talking to multiple parties (such as the police or fire department or families directly involved with the emergency), and this information-gathering phase takes time. Please know we’re working hard to get an accurate account of the situation.
- Limited on what we can share: There are times we are limited on the details we can share. This could be due to privacy laws or due to an active law enforcement investigation. It is not our intention to seem vague when we say “We are unable to share specifics regarding XYZ.” Please know that we strive toward proactive communication while balancing the privacy of others.
- Getting the message out: Once we have the message ready to send, we activate various communication channels such as ParentSquare, our website and social media platforms.
What to Do During an Emergency
- Follow Official Instructions: This might include an alternate pick-up location for your student, or a change to the schools’ dismissal times.
- Keep Phone Lines Open: Please do not call the school office. We need to keep those lines clear for emergency responders and internal coordination.
- Combat Misinformation: Only share official district updates with your neighbors and social media circles. Avoid reposting unverified rumors.
Lastly, please make sure your contact information is always up to date in Skyward/Family Access. Your email address and phone number listed in Skyward/Family Access are the ones we use when sending out our messages.
Thank you for doing your part to keep the communication lines open and for sharing accurate and factual messages with those around you.
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