Butte School District

 

PERSONNEL

5460

 

Electronic Resources and Social Networking

 

Public school employees are held to a high standard of behavior when using District resources, in social networking and in maintaining relations with their students. The Montana Department of Education Professional Educators of Montana Code of Ethics requires District staff to maintain a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom. The District encourages all staff to read and become familiar with the Code of Ethics.

 

The school district staff shall not socialize with students on social networking websites (during school or out-of-school) in a manner contrary to this policy. Staff are reminded that the same relationship, exchange, interaction, information, or behavior that would be unacceptable in a non-technological medium, is unacceptable when done through the use of technology. In fact, due to the vastly increased potential audience digital dissemination presents, extra caution must be exercised by District staff to ensure they don’t cross the line of acceptability.

 

Specifically, the following forms of technology based interactivity or connectivity are expressly forbidden when used in a manner not related to the delivery of educational services or district operations.

 

• Sharing personal landline or cell phone numbers with students for non-educational purposes;
• Text messaging students for non-educational purposes;
• Emailing students other than through and to school controlled and monitored accounts;
• Soliciting students as friends or contacts on social networking sites for non-educational purposes;
• Accepting the solicitation of students as friends or contacts on social networking sites for non-educational purposes;
• Creation of administratively approved and sanctioned “groups” on social networking sites that permit the broadcast of information that grant students access to staff member’s personal information;
• Sharing with student’s access information to personal websites or other media through which the staff member would share personal information and occurrences.

 

Accessing social networking websites for individual use during school hours is prohibited, unless specifically authorized in writing to do so by administration. Except in an emergency situation, staff shall not access social networking sites using district equipment or personal equipment, including during breaks or

 

preparation periods. All school district employees who participate in social networking websites, are prohibited from posting any confidential school district data, documents, photographs, logos, or other district owned or created information on any website. Further, the posting of any private or confidential school district material on such websites is strictly prohibited.

 

The Board directs the Superintendent or his/her designee to create strong electronic educational systems that support innovative teaching and learning, to provide appropriate staff development opportunities and to develop procedures to support this policy.

 

Staff should contact the administration if they would like to establish an educational related social media presence.

 

 

 

Cross Reference:                  5015                Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation

                                                5223                Personal Conduct

                                                5255                Disciplinary Action

                                                Professional Educators of Montana Code of Ethics

 

 

Policy History:

Adopted on: 5/22/2018

Reviewed on:

Revised on: