Experts David Margulies and Dot Hedman Warn School Districts of Social Media Threats

DALLAS, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media pose new threats and challenges to school districts.  At the 2010 Risk Management/Safe Schools Academy, hosted by the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO), that message was delivered by social media and crisis management expert David Margulies and insurance expert Dot Hedman.

"Social media works in real-time and often results in the immediate release of negative or inaccurate information," warned David Margulies, author of the book Save Your Company, Save Your Job, Crisis Management in the Internet Age. "Issues that once started and ended at the local level can now have national and even international implications in just a few hours."

Hedman cautioned that most insurance policies don't cover the large number of technology issues districts face. "Cost can run into the tens of thousands of dollars if a district has to notify thousands of people that their personal information has been compromised," notes Dot Hedman, senior vice president at Roach Howard Smith & Barton.

Both Margulies and Hedman strongly recommend districts review their policies on social media and understand the technology to eliminate potential problems before they occur.  

David Margulies, founder of The Margulies Communications Group, has been at the forefront of major issues facing public officials.  He is a frequent commentator on programs such as Marketplace, CNN and Fox News, and has appeared on Today and The O'Reilly Factor.  His book, Save Your Company, Save Your Job, Crisis Management in the Internet Age, is available from Amazon.com. David can be reached at [email protected] or (214) 368-0909.

Dot Hedman is the public sector team leader at Roach, Howard, Smith and Barton providing insurance and risk management services to public and private sector clients. Dot obtained her Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in May 1995 and is a Licensed Risk Manager.  Risk & Insurance® Magazine named Dot a Risk & Insurance® Power Broker™ in the Public Sector category for her exceptional service to public entity clients. Dot can be reached at [email protected] or 972-744-2710.

An independent, not-for-profit professional association, the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) is dedicated to being the trusted resource for school business and operations in Texas. Established in 1946, TASBO began as a forum for exchanging ideas and sharing information about school business operations in Texas.

SOURCE The Margulies Communications Group