Usage and Conduct

All District Employees Who Use Personal Technology And Social Media Shall:

1. Adhere to the high standards for appropriate school relationships in policy 5:120, Ethics and Conduct at all times, regardless of the ever-changing social media and personal technology platforms available. This includes District employees posting images or private information about themselves or others in a manner readily accessible to students and other employees that is inappropriate as defined by policy 5:20, Workplace Harassment Prohibited; 5:120, Ethics and Conduct; 6:235, Access to Electronic Networks; 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited; and the Ill. Code of Educator Ethics, 23 Ill Admin Code §22.20.

2. Choose a District-provided or supported method whenever possible to communicate with students and their parents/guardians. Specifically, do not text, call, or email students using personal technology and do not use District-provided media to communicate with students and their parents/guardians regarding school matters.

3. Not interfere with or disrupt the educational or working environment, or the delivery of education or educational support services.

4. Comply with policy 5:130, Responsibilities Concerning Internal Information. Do not use personal technology or social media to share, publish, or transmit information about or images of students without proper approval. Do not post or publish information, anecdotes, or images of District events, including of other staff members, on social media sites without express or implied approval or except where the staff member has a legal right to convey the information, anecdote, or image in such a manner.

5. Refrain from using the District’s logos without permission and follow Board policy 5:170, Copyright, and all District copyright compliance procedures.

6. Use personal technology and social media for personal purposes only during non-work times or hours. Any duty-free use must occur during times and places that the use will not interfere with job duties or otherwise be disruptive to the school environment or its operation.

7. Not represent oneself as speaking on behalf of the District or Board of Education; when identifying oneself by relationship to the District, expressly disclaim District or school endorsement of the remarks made. Communications to and from Board members must be in compliance with Board Policy 2:140.

8. Assume all risks associated with the use of personal technology and social media at school or school-sponsored activities, including students’ viewing of inappropriate Internet materials through the District employee’s personal technology or social media. The Board expressly disclaims any responsibility for imposing content filters, blocking lists, or monitoring of its employees’ personal technology and social media.

9. Be subject to remedial and any other appropriate disciplinary action for violations of this policy ranging from prohibiting the employee from possessing or using any personal technology or social media at school to dismissal and/or indemnification of the District for any losses, costs, or damages, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the District relating to, or arising out of, any violation of this policy.