7544- USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Technology is a powerful tool to enhance education, communication, and learning.

The School Board authorizes the use of social media to promote community involvement and facilitate effective communication with students, parents/guardians, staff (including School Corporation-approved volunteers), and the general public. Social media is defined in Bylaw 0100.

The Superintendent is charged with designating the Corporation-approved social media platforms/sites.

In designating Corporation-approved social media platforms/sites, the Superintendent shall specify which platforms/sites are appropriate for use at the Corporation-level, the building level or department level, for extra-curricular activities, and at the individual level by employees for professional purposes.

It is critical that students be taught how to use social media platforms safely and responsibly. Social media (as defined in Bylaw 0100) are a powerful and pervasive technology that afford students and employees the opportunity to communicate for school and work purposes, and to collaborate in the delivery of a comprehensive education. Federal law mandates that the Corporation provide for the education of students regarding appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and regarding cyberbullying awareness and response. See Board Policy 7540.03 – Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety.

The Corporation recognizes that employees may use social media for personal as well as professional reasons. The Corporation neither encourages nor discourages employees’ use of social media for personal purposes. The Corporation regulates employees’ use of social media for purposes related to their Corporation assignment to the same extent as it regulates any other form of employee communication in that regard.

Each Corporation-approved social media account/site must contain a statement that specifies its purpose(s) and limits those who access the social media account/site and use of the account/site for only that/those purpose(s) and in accordance with any specified procedures and applicable terms of service. Users are personally responsible for the content of their posts.

Social Media for Instructional and School-Sponsored Activities

Staff (including Corporation-approved volunteers) may, with prior approval/authorization from the Principal, use social media platforms/sites for classroom instruction or school-sponsored activities. When a staff member uses a Corporation-approved social media platform/site for an educational purpose, it will be considered an educational activity and will not be considered a limited public forum. Students’ use of Corporation-approved social media platforms/sites must be consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, Policy 5722/AG 5722 – School-Sponsored Student Publications and Productions, Policy 7540.03/AG 7540.03 – Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety, the instructor’s directions/procedures, and the platform/site's applicable terms of service. Students are prohibited from posting or releasing personally identifiable information about students, employees, and volunteers through Corporation-approved social media without appropriate consent.

Expected Standards of Conduct on Corporation-Approved Social Media

Employees and Corporation-approved volunteers who access Corporation-approved social media platforms are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous, and professional manner. Students, parents, and members of the general public who access Corporation-approved social media platforms similarly are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous, and civil manner.

Corporation-approved social media sites shall not contain content that is obscene; is vulgar and lewd such that it undermines the school's basic educational mission; is libelous or defamatory; constitutes hate speech; promotes illegal drug use; is aimed at inciting an individual to engage in unlawful acts or to cause a substantial disruption or material interference with Corporation operations; or interferes with the rights of others. The Corporation may exercise editorial control over the style and content of student speech on Corporation-approved social media if reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns. Staff or students who post prohibited content shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

The Corporation is committed to protecting the privacy rights of students, parents/guardians, staff, volunteers, Board members, and other individuals on Corporation-approved social media sites. Corporation employees and volunteers are prohibited from posting or releasing confidential information about students, employees, volunteers, or Corporation operations through social media without appropriate consent (i.e., express written consent from the parent of a student, the affected employee or volunteer, or the Superintendent concerning Corporation operations).

Corporation communications that occur through the use of Corporation-approved social media platforms/sites – including staff members’/volunteers' use of social media with school-sponsored activities, and comments, replies, and messages received from the general public – may constitute public records or student records, and all such communications will be maintained (i.e., electronically archived) in accordance with the Board’s adopted record retention schedule and all applicable State statutes. (See AG 8310A – Requests for Public Records)

If a staff member uses Corporation-approved social media platforms/sites in the classroom for educational purposes (i.e., classroom instruction), the staff member must consult with the Principal concerning whether such use may result in the creation of public and/or education records that must be maintained (i.e., electronically archived) for a specific period of time.

Employee's Use of Corporation Technology Resources To Access Social Media for Personal Use

Employees and Corporation-approved volunteers are prohibited from using Corporation technology resources (as defined in Bylaw 0100) to access social media for personal use during work hours.

They are reminded that the Corporation may monitor their use of Corporation technology resources.

Employees' Use of Personal Communication Devices at Work To Access Social Media for Personal Use

Employees are prohibited from using personal communication devices to access social media for personal use during work hours.

Employees and Corporation-approved volunteers are prohibited from posting or engaging in communication that violates State or Federal law, Board policies, or administrative guidelines. If an employee/volunteer's communication interferes with his/her ability to effectively perform his/her job or violates State or Federal law, Board policies, or administrative guidelines, the Corporation may impose disciplinary action and/or refer the matter to appropriate law enforcement authorities.

This policy and its corresponding administrative guideline will be reviewed and updated as necessary.

© Neola 2019