The Governing Board recognizes the value of technology such as social media platforms in promoting community involvement and collaboration. The purpose of any district-sponsored social media site shall be to further the district's vision and mission, support student learning, staff development, and enhance communication with students, parents/guardians, staff, and community members.
Definitions
Social media means any online platform for collaboration, interaction, and active participation, including, but not limited to, social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, or blogs.
District social media sites can include district, school site and other social media that has been authorized by the Superintendent or designee(s). Sites that have not been authorized by the Superintendent or designee(s) but that contain content related to the district or comments on district operations, such as a site created by a parent-faculty organization, booster club, foundation, other school-connected organization, or a student's or employee's personal site, are not considered district social media.
(cf. 0000 - Vision)
(cf. 0440 - District Technology Plan)
(cf. 1100 - Communication with the Public)
(cf. 1112 - Media Relations)
(cf. 1113 - District and School Websites)
(cf. 1230 - School-Connected Organizations)
(cf. 1260 - Educational Foundation)
(cf. 4040 - Employee Use of Technology)
(cf. 6020 - Parent Involvement)
(cf. 1113 - District and School Web Sites)
(cf. 6020 - Parent Involvement)
(cf. 6145.5 - Student Organizations and Equal Access)
The Superintendent or designee(s) shall develop content guidelines and protocols for district social media sites to ensure the appropriate and responsible use of these resources and compliance with laws, Board policy, and other regulation.
Guidelines for Content
District social media sites shall be used only for their stated purposes and in a manner consistent with this policy and Administrative Regulation 1114. By creating these sites and allowing for public comment, the Governing Board does not intend to create a limited public forum or otherwise guarantee an individual's right to free speech.
(cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression)
(cf. 6145.5 - Student Organizations and Equal Access)
The Superintendent or designee(s) shall ensure that the limited purpose of district social media sites is clearly communicated to users. Each site shall contain a statement that specifies the site's purposes along with a statement that users are expected to use the site only for stated purposes. Each site shall also contain a statement that users are personally responsible for the content of their posts.
District social media sites may not contain content that is obscene, libelous, or so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on school premises, violation of school rules, or substantial disruption of the school's orderly operation.
(cf. 5131 - Conduct)
Staff or students who post prohibited content shall be subject to discipline in accordance with district policies and administrative regulations.
(cf. 4040 - Employee Use of Technology)
(cf. 4118 - Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
(cf. 4119.21/4219.21/4319.21 - Professional Standards)
(cf. 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
(cf. 5144 - Discipline)
(cf. 5144.1 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
(cf. 6163.4 - Student Use of Technology)
The Governing Board expects that copyright laws are not to be violated in the use of material on district social media sites.
(cf. 4132/4232/4332 - Publication or Creation of Materials)
(cf. 6162.6 - Use of Copyrighted Materials)
Users of district social media sites are expected to be aware of the public nature and accessibility of social media. Information posted may be considered a public record subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. The Governing Board expects users to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous, and professional manner.
(cf. 1340 - Access to District Records)
(cf. 9012 - Board Member Electronic Communications)
The district shall not accept advertising of commercial products and services on district social media sites.
(cf.1325 - Advertising and Promotion)
Privacy
The Superintendent or designee(s) shall ensure that the privacy rights of students, parents/guardians, staff, Governing Board, and other individuals are protected on district social media sites through best practices.
District social media sites are not to be used by district employees to transmit confidential information about students, employees, or district operations. Phone numbers, home addresses, and email addresses of students, their parents/guardians, or staff shall not be published on district social media sites.
(cf. 5125.1 - Release of Directory Information)
(cf. 1340 - Access to District Records)
(cf. 4119.23/4219.23/4319.23 - Unauthorized Release of Confidential/Privileged Information)
(cf. 5022 - Student and Family Privacy Rights)
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
(cf. 4119.23/4219.23/4319.23 - Unauthorized Release of Confidential/Privileged Information)
Public safety officials shall not be required, as a condition of employment, to consent to the posting on the internet of his/her photograph or identity as a public safety officer for any purpose if that officer reasonably believes that the disclosure may result in a threat, harassment, intimidation, or harm to the officer or his/her family. (Government Code 3307.5)
District social media sites shall not post the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official including, but not limited to, the Governing Board or public safety official, without the prior written permission of that individual. (Government Code 3307.5, 6254.21, 6254.24)
(cf. 3515.3 - District Police/Security Department)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
32261 School safety, definitions of bullying and electronic act
35182.5 Contracts for advertising
48900 Grounds for suspension and expulsion
48907 Exercise of free expression; rules and regulations
48950 Speech and other communication
49061 Definitions, directory information
49073 Release of directory information
60048 Commercial brand names, contracts or logos
GOVERNMENT CODE
3307.5 Publishing identity of public safety officers
6250-6270 Public Records Act, especially:
6254.21 Publishing addresses and phone numbers of officials
6254.24 Definition of public safety official
54952.2 Brown Act, definition of meeting
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 17
101-1101 Federal copyright law
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1232g Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
157 Employee rights to engage in concerted, protected activity
794 Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; accessibility to federal web sites
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
99.1-99.67 Family Educational Rights and Privacy
COURT DECISIONS
Page v. Lexington County School District, (2008, 4th Cir.) 531 F.3d 275
Downs v. Los Angeles Unified School District, (2000) 228 F.3d 1003
Aaris v. Las Virgenes Unified School District, (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 1112
Perry Education Association v. Perry Local Educators' Association, (1983) 460 U.S. 37
Governing Board, Island Trees Union Free School District, et.al. v. Pico, (1982) 457 U.S. 853
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD DECISIONS
18-CA-19081 Sears Holdings, December 4, 2009
Management Resources:
FACEBOOK PUBLICATIONS
Facebook for Educators Guide, 2011
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California School Public Relations Association: http://www.calspra.org
Facebook in Education: http://www.facebook.com/education
Facebook for Educators: http://facebookforeducators.org
Facebook, privacy resources: http://www.facebook.com/fbprivacy
Policy NEWPORT-MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: March 28, 2017 Costa Mesa, California