Media Relations

The district employs educators and administrators who are innovative thinkers, leaders or experts in their field. Staff is prepared to discuss current and important issues with reporters.

If you are interested in interviewing, filming or photographing a district employee or board member, your first point of contact is the Media and Communications Director. We are glad to help you find the best subject-matter expert for your story and arrange an interview time.

Media who want to film, photograph or interview Ashland Public Schools staff members, students or board members are asked to make a request directly to Media and Communications Director Esmeralda Casas at media@ashland.k12.ma.us or 508-532-8080.

For emergencies, please direct your inquiries to Superintendent Jim Adams at jadams@ashland.k12.ma.us.

Ashland Public Schools operates in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which allows students and caregivers to opt out of the release of certain information about students, including photographs. The Media and Communications Director will work with each school to determine who cannot be photographed and interviewed according to FERPA guidelines. As a general rule, the media may take general shots of students without parental consent during school events that are open to the public, including athletic events.

Ashland Public Schools is committed to providing accurate information about the district and its activities in a timely and appropriate manner. To ensure that the time the media spend in the district is successful, please contact the Media and Communications Director before your visit. The media should understand that it is the responsibility of the district to maintain an atmosphere that supports learning with as few disruptions as possible. Therefore, anytime a member of the media is on district property, the Media and Communications Director or a designee will escort the media at all times to minimize disruption at the school and to assist with additional requests. The media must keep in mind that standardized testing, school-wide events or similar activities may prohibit a visit on a specific day.

Interviewing, filming or photographing students on campus can only be done with the permission and supervision of the communications office or school administration. Whenever on a school campus or at the district office, the media are asked to wear or display any press identification badges they may have from their employer. This is in addition to any ID badges provided by the school or district.