Social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to communicate through interactive dialogue. Social media technologies include but are not limited, to blogs, picture-sharing, vlogs, wall-postings, discussion boards, e-mail, instant messaging, music-sharing, crowdsourcing, voice over IP (VoIP), Pinstrist, Facebook, LinkedIn, My Space, Twitter, You Tube, and any successor protocol to transmit information. Mobile technologies are any devices that: transmit sounds, images, texts, messages, videos, or electronic information; electronically records, plays, or stores information; or accesses the Internet, or private communication or information networks. Current examples are Smartphones such as BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, and other such mobile technologies such as tablets (iPads, Thrive, etc.) and subsequent generations of these and related devices.
The Governing Board recognizes how web-based and mobile technologies are fundamentally changing opportunities to communicate with individuals or groups and how their use can empower the user and enhance discourse. The Board equally recognizes that the misuse of such technologies can be potentially damaging to the District, employees, students and the community. Accordingly, the Governing Board requires all employees to adhere to adopted policies and to utilize digital communications and electronic devices in a professional manner at all times.
The Board establishes the following parameters:
District employees
● shall adhere to all Governing Board policies related to technologies including but not limited to the use of District technology, copyright laws, student rights, parent rights, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), staff ethics, and staff-student relations;
● are responsible for the content of their posting on any form of technology through any form of communication;
● shall only use District controlled and approved technologies when communicating with students or parents;
● shall ensure that technologies used to communicate with students and District staff are maintained separate from personal technologies used to communicate with others;
● shall not use District owned or provided technologies to endorse or promote a product, a cause or a political position or candidate;
● in all instances must be aware of his/her association with the District and ensure the related content of any posting is consistent with how they wish to present themselves to colleagues, community members, parents and students;
● shall not use District logos or District intellectual property without the written approval of the Superintendent;
● shall use technologies to enhance and add value to communications with all recipients and be respectful of those with whom they communicate;
● shall immediately report all misuse or suspected misuse of technology to their direct supervisor/administrator who in turn will immediately report to the Superintendent;
● shall comply with all applicable records management parameters established by Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
The Superintendent shall communicate the above to all employees of the District at the beginning of each school year and to newly hired employees as part of the hiring process.
The Superintendent shall establish which technologies are approved for use by employees to communicate with parents and students. Approved technologies shall be communicated to the Board and employees prior to the start of every school year, to newly elected Board members prior to taking office, and to newly hired employees as part of the hiring process.
The Superintendent shall determine which records retention and management guidelines as established by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records are applicable to this Board policy and communicate these guidelines to the Board and employees prior to the start of every school year, to newly elected Board members prior to taking office, and newly hired employees as part of the hiring process.
Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and may constitute a violation of federal or state law in which case appropriate law enforcement shall be notified. The Superintendent shall report violations of this policy to the Board and shall make reports to the appropriate law enforcement agency when determined necessary.
Adopted: date of Manual adoption
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-341
15-514
CROSS REF.:
GBEA - Staff Ethics
GBEB - Staff Conduct
GBEBB - Staff Conduct With Students
GCQF - Discipline, Suspension, and Dismissal of Professional Staff Members
GDQD - Discipline, Suspension, and Dismissal of Support Staff Members
IJNDB - Use of Technology Resources in Instruction
JIC - Student Conduct