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DEBH-AP: Employee’s Personal Use of Social Media

West Fargo Public Schools recognizes the importance of using social media as a communication and learning tool. Employees are expected to exercise good judgement and serve as positive ambassadors for the district and appropriate role models for learners while using social media. This policy provides guidance for an employee’s personal use of social media, which for purposes of this policy includes blogs, wikis, microblogs, message boards, chat rooms, electronic newsletters, online forums, social networking sites, and other sites and services that permit users to share information with others in a contemporaneous manner.

District Responsibilities

West Fargo Public Schools acknowledges that employees have the right under the First Amendment, in certain circumstances, to speak on matters of public concern. However, the district shall regulate the use of social media by employees, including employees' personal use of social media, when such use:

  • Interferes or disrupts the educational environment of the school district;
  • Harasses learners, coworkers, or members of the community;
  • Creates a hostile work environment;
  • Makes statements about the school district that are demonstrably false;
  • Poses a safety threat to learners, coworkers, or school operations;
  • Breaches confidentiality, including but not limited to, posting data, documents, and photographs;
  • Implies that the employee is acting as an agent of the school district by referencing school or district images, logos, official names, or materials; or
  • Violates state or federal laws, district policy or regulations, or, if applicable, the negotiated agreement.

The district discourages personal social media use while on-duty; except on breaks or when authorized by building, department, or district administration. District computers and/or the district network shall be used solely for classroom/district-related purposes and not for access to personal social media accounts.

Employee’s Responsibilities

Employees must maintain professionalism in their interactions with learners, other employees, and the community at all times. The following principles apply to professional use of social media on behalf of the district as well as personal use of social media by the employee.

Employees shall not post any information online that violates state and federal laws, district policy or regulation, or, if applicable, the negotiated agreement.

Employees shall not use their school email address for personal communications on public social media sites.

 

Employees shall not disclose information, including photographs, on any social media site that is confidential or proprietary to the district, its learners, or employees, or that is protected by data privacy laws or district policy.

Employees shall not use or post a trademarked district or school logo on any social media site without written permission from the Public Relations Department.

Employees shall not post images of learners to their personal accounts on social media sites when such images are taken during the instructional day.

Employees shall not use district provided images, emails, or other personally identifying information for personal gain or profit.

When referring to the district, its schools, learners, families, programs, activities, employees, or volunteers on any social media sites, employees must be professional in all communications (text, images, or other).

When referring to the district, its schools, learners, families, programs, activities, employees, or volunteers on any social media sites, employees shall not use obscene, profane, or vulgar language on any social media sites or engage in communications or conduct that is harassing, threatening, bullying, libelous, or defamatory or that discusses or encourages any illegal activity or the inappropriate use of alcohol, use of illegal drugs, sexual behavior, sexual harassment, or bullying.

Employees shall always maintain appropriate employee-learner relationships and refrain from online interactions with learners on social media sites outside of those forums dedicated to academic or school related use.

Employees are encouraged to maintain a clear distinction between their personal social media use and any district-related social media sites; district-affiliated social media accounts must remain separate from personal accounts.

Employees that extensively associate themselves with the district should consider using the following disclaimer on their personal social media site: “The views on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent the views, opinions, vision, mission, beliefs, or strategies of West Fargo Public Schools.”

Employees who participate in social media sites may include information about their work with the district as part of their personal profile, as it would relate to a typical social conversation. This may include:

  • Work information included in a personal profile, including the district’s name, job title, and job duties
  • Status updates regarding an employee’s own job promotion
  • Personal participation in district-sponsored events, including volunteer activities
  • Recruitment efforts by the district
  • Sharing of content from district-affiliated accounts

Employee’s personal social media accounts shall not be linked to current district learners’ online profiles. This section does not apply to a learner that is an employee’s family member.

Employees must report any inappropriate behavior or activity on social media immediately to administration.

Employees must be mindful that any Internet information is ultimately accessible to the world. To avoid jeopardizing their professional effectiveness, employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with privacy policies, settings, and protections on any social networking websites to which they choose to subscribe and be aware that information posted online, despite privacy protections, is easily and often reported to administrators or exposed to district learners.

Violations

Inappropriate activity by employees while on social media is subject to disciplinary action up to and including, but not limited to, revocation of the privileges granted in this policy, dismissal, and referral to law enforcement officials, as appropriate and in accordance with law. Inappropriate use shall be determined by school administration. The district may consult with its legal counsel prior to making a dismissal under this policy.

 

The district shall investigate any suspected or alleged violations of this policy and may, but is not required to, actively monitor websites to ensure employee compliance with this policy.

 

Adopted: 07/01/22

Reviewed:  

Revised: