Welcome to Vancouver Public Schools!

The communications office is responsible for sharing news and information about the good work happening in our schools. We can connect you with VPS employees and students; share information; provide details about events; and distribute press releases, stories and videos.

The communications staff is committed to working with you, and we value professional relationships based on fairness, respect and accuracy. We will do our best to provide timely responses to your requests. There will be times, however, when we will be unable to respond immediately.

For more details about working with the district, please refer to the guidelines below.

Thank you for your interest in VPS. We look forward to working with you.

All members of the media should contact the communications office at 360-313-1230 or email Jessica Roberts and cc vpscommunications@vansd.org before contacting any school, student or employee regarding school or district issues. We will help to accommodate your request and make necessary arrangements for photo and/or video permission if appropriate.

VPS does not allow media activity that may negatively interfere with teaching and learning, misrepresent the district and/or students or compromise the safety of students and staff.

The district will use its discretion to vet media requests based on the scope of the request, intended use, potential disruption to school operations, deadline, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act guidelines and other factors. Most requests, but not all, will be accommodated.

Members of the media should contact the communications office and receive permission before going to a school. If you have not prearranged your visit, you may be asked to leave school grounds.

Once you have been granted permission to be on school grounds, you should provide identification and sign in at the main office. Students and staff will be informed that they have the right to refuse to be interviewed, photographed or videotaped.

Please respect our students and staff members’ right to privacy. Only students with photo releases may be photographed or filmed and only after the district has given permission (see “Media on school grounds”). Reporters and photographers should check with the school to confirm student photo releases before printing, posting or airing pictures or footage.

Outside organizations that wish to photograph and/or film students on school grounds for commercial use also must first contact the communications office. Parents will be required to sign a separate release granting permission for the use of their son or daughter’s photo/image.

Permission from the communications office is not necessary when covering public events such as athletics; cheer, dance, color guard and band competitions; theater and musical performances; and parades.

Please see the guidelines for submitting a public records request. In some cases, the information sought may already be available online. Examples include budget information, policies and regulations, school board information and school and district state test scores.

Vancouver Public Schools uses a variety of methods to distribute information about weather-related delays, early releases, closures and other news.

VPS communications

Office phone: 360-313-1230
Jessica RobertsExecutive director of communications

Press releases