Media Release

August 3, 2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Fox Chapel Area schools are public buildings, and students, educational programs, school events, and community-oriented activities are sometimes subject to recording by video, audio, photography, livestreaming, and the like for use as instructional and informational tools. In addition, students’ work is sometimes published in print and/or electronic media. The district will allow students to be recorded, interviewed, livestreamed, and/or photographed and students’ work to be published for legitimate public purposes. Additionally, students and their work may be featured on social media. 

Throughout the 2026-2027 school year, students may be recorded, interviewed, livestreamed, and/or photographed by representatives from newspapers, television stations, and radio stations, as well as district communications office personnel and/or their designees, and such recordings, interviews, livestreams, and photographs may be publicly displayed. Students, their work, and photographs may also appear in print media and/or electronically on public websites, social media, and in broadcasts. 

If parents/guardians object to such publication, they must file a written objection. The district will not deliberately publish a video, photograph, an interview/audio, or the work of a child if a parent/guardian has filed a written objection. The district will also make a reasonable effort to avoid publication by any third party. It is understood that the district has no control over the news media or others outside of the school organization. Student participation in school activities, especially athletics and other competitive events and extracurricular activities, increases the likelihood of publication of stories and images of those students. Additionally, please note that the written objection does not preclude a child’s voice from being livestreamed for instructional purposes. 

Please address written objections to Bonnie Berzonski, coordinator of communications, Fox Chapel Area School District, 611 Field Club Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, or via email at bonnie_berzonski@fcasd.edu. If parents/guardians have filed a written objection in the past, they still must file a new letter of objection each year. All written objections must be filed with the district’s communications office by Wednesday, August 19, 2026. If parents/guardians do not file a written objection, their silence will serve as implied consent.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mary Catherine Reljac
Superintendent