Edmond school board adopts social media policy

EDMOND — A social media policy affecting staff and students is now in effect for the state’s third-largest district.

Last month, Edmond school board members heard a first reading of the policy and asked Randy Decker, chief human resource director, to tweak the guidelines.

The three-page policy forbids employees in most cases from using personal social media during work hours.

The district, with 24,400 students, also doesn’t want employees using personal social media to discuss school business with parents or students. Employees are prohibited from using administrative social media to advocate for a political candidate or issue.

Improper usage can lead to a written reprimand or dismissal.

Decker admitted during Monday’s meeting that it would be nearly impossible for the district to monitor every kind of online platform involving Edmond schools.

“We can’t manage every platform,” he said. “You might have a sports site for one school, which parents manage.”

Board member Meredith Exline said there should be some kind of recourse for sites not managed well.

“The school can address that if a screen shot of it is sent to us,” Decker said.

Board member Jamie Underwood emphasized that teachers should know that communication with a student should be done on a school site and not privately.

The board unanimously approved the policy as well as social media guidelines for student use.

The policy warns students that they can leave a large digital footprint on social media for all to see, including future employers. They are also advised that cyberbullying opens up students to criminal charges and possible lawsuits, and that the school district vows to help law enforcement agencies with any investigations in the matter.

“This is a difficult thing to manage and we rely on parents to help,” Board President Cynthia Benson said.

With the increasing popularity of social media, Decker said, the district probably will have to tweak the policy in the future.

In another online development affecting students, the district agreed to purchase Gaggle email and document monitoring service for $49,024. Rich Anderson, director of technology, said the service has the potential to save lives.

On the secondary level, students have the ability to use the school’s email and send each other documents. The service, Anderson said, allows for scanning of attached documents and flags certain words, such as terrorism or pornography. A document with such words is then reviewed by staff.

In some cases, a student may be doing an academic report on terrorism. That would not merit further action by officials. If it is ascertained to be a legitimate threat, an email is sent to the school for further review.

Exline wondered if staff members also should have their attachments scanned. Anderson said that option could be explored. He said another Oklahoma school district used the service and prevented a suicide.

Anderson told the board the expense is worth it if it “prevented a suicide or an attack on the school.”

The use of the service was approved 5-0.