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Potsdam school contracts with BOCES for media relations to improve communication with public

Posted 2/17/18

By MATT LINDSEY POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School will now use BOCES to handle communications services, including some media relations and press releases. Superintendent Joann Chambers will continue …

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Potsdam school contracts with BOCES for media relations to improve communication with public

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School will now use BOCES to handle communications services, including some media relations and press releases.

Superintendent Joann Chambers will continue to speak with the media about topics concerning the district, but Rebekah Grim, manager of communications and print services at St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES, says she is usually more readily available and can track down information for reporters.

BOCES allows districts to provide services or programs that they otherwise would not be able to afford on their own, said Grim. “In our rural, economically disadvantaged school districts, BOCES services are vital to districts’ success,” she said.

“Rebekah did a presentation for superintendents late last fall, and I was immediately intrigued by the service,” Chambers said.

Chambers said she values her communication with families, but it has been challenging for her and each principal to keep up with newsletters, the website, Facebook pages, etc.

“I am looking forward to having some professional assistance in this area,” Chambers said.

Each year, school districts select BOCES services for their district based on their needs, including things such as special education, instructional support and others. Grim came to the Jan. 16 Board of Education meeting where board members agreed to have PCS buy into the service this year.

The communications service is considered “aidable” through BOCES, which means that districts receive reimbursement through the state based on their specific aid ratio, Grim said.

The cost for a full year is $17,000, so the pro-rated amount for a half-year is $8,500, according to Chambers. “As Grimm said, a BOCES service is ‘aidable,’ so we will get about 75 percent of that amount back the following year,” Chambers said.

Financial factors have led to many schools asking BOCES to handle communications-related tasks.

“Most districts do not have room in their tight budgets to hire a dedicated in-house communications person and oftentimes superintendents, secretaries, or other employees do the best they can to communicate while also completing their normal daily tasks,” she said.

One shared service offered through the BOCES is the communications service. Basically, districts pay into the service, which is shared between all other participating districts.

“Currently, eight school districts are part of the communications service,” she said. This entails support with social media, website management, print publications, and media and public relations.

The communications service provides expertise and a dedicated professional to focus on the communications strategy for the district. School districts can sign up for the full service or contract for special projects as needed.

“In addition to overseeing the communications service, I also manage the BOCES print services,” Grim said. “We have a main print shop in Ogdensburg and satellite shops in Potsdam, Norwood, and Massena.”

Districts can request graphic design services and the printing and assembly of publications and other projects. This service is typically used throughout the year, and especially for things like budget newsletters and district calendars.

Chambers said she also happy that BOCES will now handle budget newsletters, district calendars, and two annual publications – “that are very time-consuming to produce for our current staff.”

Grim already works with Massena CSD, Lisbon CSD, Parishville-Hopkinton CSD, Brasher Falls CSD, Heuvelton CSD, Salmon River CSD, and Malone CSD. Additionally, she acts as spokesperson for the St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES and its programs and services.