Social Media Guidelines / Policy 7540.10

Social Media Guidelines

Holly Area Schools utilizes social media (Facebook, Twitter, and other networking sites) to connect with our school families and the community for the purpose of sharing information rapidly.  Our posts are intended to provide information about what’s going on across the district. This information will often include various announcements, postings about upcoming events, promotion of clubs, teams, programs, academics, and celebrations of success.  Specific questions or concerns will not be addressed on the district’s social media sites, but rather through our "chain of command" process referenced on our district website and in our student/parent handbooks. Students, parents, staff, and community members are expected to use social media in a responsible manner that reflects the highest standards of honesty, respect, and consideration of others.  Under no circumstances will offensive or negative comments about students, staff, community, or the district be tolerated. Posts and comments should build and support a positive school community. Misuse of the District’s social media sites could be regarded as a violation of these guidelines and may result in restrictions and disciplinary action in accordance with district and state policies.

Social Media Policy 

Board of Education
Holly Area Schools
Social Media

POLICY # 7540.10 – NEW from Thrun Law Firm
Adopted 9-9-19

It is the policy of the Holly Area Schools Board of Education that student or staff use of social media while on school property, during instructional hours, or using District owned property (laptops, tablets, etc.) may not interfere with the educational purpose of the District. This policy supplements the District’s other applicable policies. 

For the purposes of this policy, “social media” refers to any publicly accessible Internet-based service that enables a user to share communications, images, or videos with others, or to participate in social networking. Social media includes, but is not limited to, blogs and social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. 

Students

A student’s social media use interferes with the educational purpose of the District when it causes or it is reasonably foreseeable that it will cause a substantial disruption within the school environment. Improper use of social media includes, but is not limited to, posting the following: 

  • threats of violence;
  • threats of bullying, or cyber-bullying; 
  • threats of harassment or actual harassment;
  • advocacy of illegal items or activities; 
  • vulgar or offensive language; or 
  • lewd and lascivious material.

Such use detracts from the District’s educational mission and will be subject to disciplinary action including temporary mobile device confiscation and up to expulsion, depending on the severity of the violation. 

Staff 

At all times on social media, staff shall:

  • maintain professionalism;
  • make clear that any personal views expressed on their social media are their own, not the District’s;
  • engage in appropriate student-teacher relationships; and
  • report any inappropriate behavior or activity they view on social media, including conduct which endangers the safety of minors.

At all times on social media, staff shall not:

  • use their District email addresses to register on social networks, blogs or other online tools utilized for personal use;
  • engage in unprofessional, discriminatory, or sexually provocative communications with students or other staff members;
  • make statements or take positions on behalf of the District; 
  • release confidential information or personally identifiable information about students (if a staff member does disclose confidential or personally identifiable information about a student or staff member, the staff member may be subject to discipline, whether the disclosure was inadvertent or intentional); or
  • post or share anything that would violate federal or state law.

Personal use of social media by a staff member during District time or on District owned equipment is prohibited. Staff may use social media during work hours if the use is related to their official duties. Any communications posted or sent using the District’s Internet network may be subject to disclosure for investigations, discovery, and public record requests. 

Staff use of social media in violation of this policy detracts from the District’s educational mission and will result in disciplinary action in accordance with Board policies, collective bargaining agreements, and District procedures. Disciplinary action may include severe penalties, up to, and including, discharge.