Any District approved social media site must follow the guidelines outlined by District Social Media Guidelines. An employee using social media in his or her professional capacity as an employee of the District and/or pursuant to his or her official duties should be honest about whom he or she is, and be thoughtful and respectful when submitting or posting messages. In addition, employees using social media for such purposes should adhere to the following guidelines:
- District employees’ online behavior should reflect the same standards of honesty, respect and consideration they adhere in their face-to-face interactions. The line between public and private, personal and professional are blurred in the digital world. By virtue of identifying yourself as a Webster City Community School District employee online, you are now connected to colleagues, students, parents and the school community. You should ensure that content associated with you is consistent with your work at the District.
- Remember, your social networking site is an extension of your personality, and therefore an extension of your professional life and your classroom. If it would seem inappropriate to put a certain photograph on the classroom wall – it is inappropriate to put online.
- Do not submit or post confidential or protected information about the District, its students, alumni or employees. You should assume that most information about a student is protected from disclosure by both federal law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and state law (Iowa Code Section 22.7 (1). Disclosure of confidential or protected information may result in liability for invasion of privacy or defamation and result in disciplinary action up to, and including, discharge from employment.
- Any information shared via social media regarding the business of the District, whether using personal or District equipment, may be considered a public record. All information communicated through or maintained on the District’s system is subject to being monitored or inspected at any time.
- Report, as required by law, any information found on a social networking site that falls under the mandatory reporting.
- Proofread content before you submit or post messages. Remember that you are writing for publication, even if it is just for a social networking site. Refrain from making unsubstantiated statements and avoid careless comments, such as “research shows” unless you also provide full citation of the research. Exercise caution with regards to exaggeration, colorful language, guesswork, copyrighted materials, legal conclusions, and derogatory remarks or characterizations.
- Do not use language that could be considered defamatory, obscene, proprietary, or libelous.
- No personal addresses or phone numbers should appear on any school website/social tool.
The District recognizes the prevalence of social media used for personal purposes and acknowledges that its employees have the right, in certain circumstances, to speak out on matters of public concern. However, the District has the right to respond to an employee’s use of social media in other circumstances, such as when the personal use of social media interferes with the employee’s ability to perform his or her duties or affect the District’s efforts to provide educational services.
Accordingly, it is essential that employees conduct themselves in such a way that their personal use of social media does not adversely affect their position with the District. In addition, employees using social media for such purposes should adhere to the following guidelines:
- Employees must maintain professional relationships with current students enrolled in the District. It is inappropriate for District employees to communicate with students enrolled in the District through social media, such as through electronic messaging or any other social networking website. This includes becoming “friends” on such sites or otherwise allowing students to access your site page to communicate. You should refrain from engaging in social interaction with current students enrolled in the district through personal pages on social networking websites and other personal web pages or personal electronic messaging. (Exception: Communication between family members.)
- You should refrain from providing your personal contact information to students currently enrolled in the District. You should only provide your official District email address and/or telephone number as a way to communicate with students.
- During the workday, you should refrain from participating on any personal social media regardless of whether such participation is through District or personal equipment, except when the personal account is required to access and update a District page.
- If you submit or post information or comments that are not related to the District, your activities may still result in professional repercussions. Such actions include, but are not limited to, posting of photographs or information that violates federal or state law and regulations and/or District policies and rules.
- Keep in mind that you do not have control of what others may submit or post on social networking websites: therefore, be aware that your conduct in your private life may affect your professional life. Be vigilant about what others post about you on your page and, if necessary, take steps to remove comments that pose a risk to you or the District.
- Never pretend to be someone else and submit or post information concerning the District.
- District equipment should not be used for personal media access/use, whether on or off campus.
Employees who fail to comply with this policy or who make other inappropriate use of social media may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge. If an employee has any questions about the application of this policy, he or she should consult his or her supervisor.
Approved: August 2016