3213.01 - COMMUNICATIONS WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS VIA ELECTRONIC MEDIA
2540 - User of Multi-Media(1) The School Board encourages positive and professional communication by staff with parents and students by means which best protect the interests of all concerned. Communications via personal electronic media such as Facebook, Twitter, cell phone messaging, and other personal electronic means regarding school matters have the potential to create both public records and education records, or to contain personally identifiable student information. The School Board is ultimately responsible for the maintenance and proper disposal of such records and for the protection of such confidential information, and is dependent upon its employees to meet this responsibility.
(2) The School Board has provided staff with the means to communicate electronically with parents and students concerning school matters. These means currently include PCS Portal, Moodle, and district email (Outlook), and are sufficient for the purposes intended. For staff to communicate on school matters with parents and students by personal electronic means when sufficient School Board means are available exposes the School Board to a possible violation of its legal obligations. Such communication could cause the appearance of inappropriate association with students. Accordingly, staff shall utilize School Board resources in all electronic communications with parents and students regarding school matters provided, however, private electronic media, such as a cellphone, may be used when District resources are not available, when such use is in the best interest of all concerned.
(3) Staff communications with parents and students via private electronic media concerning non-school-related matters are governed in part by, and may lead to discipline under, Board Policies 1140, 3140, and 4140.
(4) Volunteers shall abide by Policy 1213.01, and shall utilize School Board resources in all electronic communications with parents and students regarding school matters; provided, however, private electronic media, such as a cellphone, may be used when District resources are not available, when such use is in the best interest of all concerned.
Effective Date: August 15, 2011
Adopted 6/14/2011; Revised 10/23/2012
