Was a teacher and union rep. We had policy to not talk to press about these things unless you were designated by the district or a union rep.

I work at a nonprofit, we have policy that states we are not to talk to the press and direct inquiries to the proper department.

I would need a lot more info before I thought the school district is out of line on this one. Especially, with "relating to student matters" , FERPA violations can cost big bucks.
Main story is behind pay wall.

There have been many threads on D.U. about school working conditions, homework policies, record keeping, school ventilation during Covid and on and on. Prohibiting those, should be unconstitutional.

O.T.O.H., to converse about a specific student, .....

Then there is a grey area. A graduate of a high school student where I taught, was in all the newspapers. He worked for a company - you would well remember the name. Company went bankrupt and was one of the most hated companies in the country, like Pharma-Bro today.

He went to prison for a couple of years.

When the news first broke about the company and the individual, newspaper contacted his former English teacher at the school. Teacher was quoted in the paper, describing the former student as one of the most unliked students in our school. That was true. He was an asshole even then.

I still have mixed feelings about the teacher's comments to the press. I wouldn't have responded to the reporter.