District Communication

Ways We Communicate

Midland Public Schools strives to be transparent, respectful, and informative in its communications. There are a variety of tools we use to directly communicate with students, parents, staff and the public.

Timely Alerts and Updates

Edulog Parent Portal Lite is a mobile app that allows parents to track their student's school bus in real-time and receive notifications when the bus is approaching your stop.

Download the App and Learn More

 

Ways we communicate

  •     Email, Voice, and Text via InTouch
  •     MPSTV Charter Channel 190 AT&T Channel 99 
  •   Network Television Stations
            WNEM - TV 5
            WJRT - TV 12
            WEYI - TV 25
  •     Social Media Channels
            Facebook
            Instagram
            LinkedIn
            X
  •     Midland Public schools Website https://www.midlandps.org
  •     Exterior Building Digital Signs
  •     MPS Closure Hotline 989-923-SNOW

Stories from the District

Change in Newsletter Format

You may have noticed that this newsletter is different from the Communique. As part of our District Communications plan moving forward, we have changed the newsletter to this new format to provide you with more relevant and informative content in a clear and concise manner. Celebrations of individual schools, teams, and students will primarily be shared via our District social media channels. We are open to your feedback on this new format! Please email us at communications@midlandps.org or see the contact section at the end of the newsletter.

View available newsletters here

Watch Board of Education meetings and other recorded school events online or on your TV:

This quarterly newsletter highlights the amazing work of our teachers and students. It is printed in the Midland Daily News and is available here.

Follow Midland Public Schools on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) to receive timely updates and notifications. We also post meeting recordings and other video content on YouTube.

Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
X
YouuTube

Crisis Communications

A crisis is an unanticipated event or series of events that threaten the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.

During a crisis situation, district staff will initiate a crisis communications plan to coordinate communications both internally and externally. This plan is NOT the same thing as the Emergency Operations Plan which outlines how emergencies are initially reported and handled.

In all communications during a crisis, the district strives to be transparent, accessible, prompt, compassionate and informative. During a crisis, our values and top priorities do not change: Lead with respect, trust and courage. Ensure an equitable, collaborative and inclusive culture. Enable all to achieve success.

During a crisis or perceived crisis, a designated team will convene to assess the situation and create a plan of action for communications. This happens while the team simultaneously coordinates with local law enforcement/first responders/SROs (student resource officers), staff and students. Keeping students safe is our first priority. For these reasons, it’s not always possible for the school/district to communicate with parents immediately. However, we will always strive to communicate with parents as quickly as possible – likely in the form of an email.

Administration staff will typically put a building(s) in one of four modes during a crisis or perceived crisis using a mobile application that all staff are required to have on their cell phone called Raptor:

Secure Perimeter/Secure Mode: People inside the building a free to move around, but cannot enter or exit the building. Class schedules usually remain as usual. There’s often increased security at the entrances and exits of the building.
Example use case scenarios: active shooter at a different school district

Shelter in Place: Generally used for weather-related events. People in the building shelter in their current location or a designated location to stay safe and protected.
Example use case scenarios: tornado warning

Evacuation: Everyone vacates the building and waits outside at a distance.
Example use case scenarios: fire, gas leak

Lockdown: All rooms are secured (doors and windows locked) and no one is permitted to enter or exit the building.
Example use case scenarios: active shooter, unidentified intruder, weapon in school

  1. Keep a close eye on your email and cell phone for updates from your student’s school/the district.
  2. Stay where you are. During a crisis, we ask that parents do not go to schools to pick up their children unless instructed to do so. When a school is in one of the modes listed above, people are not permitted to exit or enter the building and it’s critical that all students are accounted for at all times.
  3. Wait for additional instructions.

We're here to connect with you!

For questions, concerns and complaints, we encourage parents and community members to first communicate directly with the educator in charge of the class or program you’d like to discuss.
Contact Order for Specific Sectors and Situations

Take a look at the staff directory if you already know who you’d like to reach out to.
Staff Directory

All Media Requests should be directed to:

Katie Guyer
Director of Communications and Community Relations
guyerkl@midlandps.org
989-923-4411

Visiting sites: Media occasionally visit schools to report stories or promote our incredible students, staff or events. Media should contact the manager of communications before visiting a campus. Media must sign in at the school’s front office.

Photos/videos: Students and parents are permitted to opt out of the release of certain information, including photographs or videos. The school will work with media to identify who can and cannot be photographed or interviewed.

Emergencies/crisis communications: When solicited, the district will work with the media to provide a written statement or to schedule an interview time. Our first priorities are to protect students and staff and communicate with parents. We will then provide timely information to the media. During a significant emergency, media may be assigned to a designated location to ensure their safety and minimize disruptions to emergency response efforts.


Student Privacy

We have a legal and ethical responsibility to keep students and student data safe. The privacy of student records is protected through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).

Learn more about federal student privacy laws and your rights.

Information You Will Not Hear from Us

In communications from the district and/or schools, there is certain student-specific information that we will not share with the public in accordance with the laws listed above and out of respect for our students:

  • Family information: Mother’s maiden name, name of parents
  • Social security number
  • Fingerprints
  • Report card
  • Transcript
  • Class schedule
  • Disciplinary actions and records

There are some situations in which this information will be shared with appropriate officials during health or safety emergencies. To see a list of conditions and parties that we have the right to disclose this information to without consent from a parent, visit US Dept of Education website.