FALL RIVER — Calling it “a waste of cash,” the Fall River College Committee on Monday, Sept. 8, voted to not renew its annual contract with John Guilfoil Public Relations agency — a nation-wide communications and media relations firm that has served the varsity district for years.
All members of the varsity board, apart from College Committee member Shelli Pereira abstaining, rejected the reportedly $27,000 contract, which is up for renewal October 2025.
College Committee member Kevin Aguiar admitted to being lower than glad with the agency’s function in serving to share the district’s information.
As a substitute, the board will search options, which might embrace hiring a media relations consultant internally and preserving native press within the loop. College Committee member Collin Dias advised the district “flip again on feedback” on its social media posts.
B.M.C. Durfee Excessive College is situated on Elsbree Road in Fall River.
Dias maintained that contracting a third-party agency “is a waste of cash,” and urged the board to find a extra “structured” strategy to disseminating information, notably excellent news, with the general public within the creation of “open communication and collaboration,” he mentioned.
In line with JGPR’s web site, the agency makes a speciality of representing and aiding entities “who serve the general public,” with strategic communication. These entities embrace public security departments, authorities companies and municipalities, and faculty districts.
Superintendent Dr. Tracy Curley took the time to fulfill with college students of the Nueva Vista Twin Language Program on the Carlton M. Viveiros Elementary College and see their work throughout the pupil showcase occasion.
The place can households, academics and college students flip for centralized faculty information?
College Committee member Bobby Bailey requested the board to contemplate what platform could also be greatest fitted to a central channel that Fall River Public College group members could simply entry for info.
“We speak about our picture within the district,” Bailey mentioned, however advised the district might moreover “management [its] narrative,” in making certain all launched info is correct.
What the district is looking for in a brand new PR individual?
Bailey mentioned he helps the thought of an inner rent who can join the district with public media retailers, citing “how briskly information travels,” and the necessity to alleviate strain on Superintendent Tracy Curley, who’s often known as upon to step in and hold the press or dad and mom updated.
“I don’t suppose it’s her job,” Bailey mentioned. “It’s not truthful.”
Different committee members expressed considerations about “how information will get reported,” coupled with social media customers’ penchant for distorting info.
Previously, Curley has given public experiences through native radio station WSAR, however Bailey nervous few listeners commonly tune in.
Curley maintained that the contract shared by the district and JGPR concerned “a number of press releases monthly,” together with emergency alerts and different breaking communication.
Dias pushes for district to ‘interact’ different media retailers
Following the vote that stripped Fall River’s public faculties of its media relations agency, Dias pressed his colleagues on stage to “interact” different native media retailers within the metropolis who can attain a wider vary of readers.
Dias mentioned he’d prefer to see the committee do “as a lot as we are able to” to achieve audiences and hold households knowledgeable.
This text initially appeared on The Herald Information: Fall River’s faculty board is not going to renew yearly contract with PR agency
