Social media policy changed
CROSSVILLE The Cumberland County Board of Education approved changes to its Internet policy last week, adding guidance for teachers using social networking sites.
"We're not prohibiting teachers from having social network pages," Richard Janeway, 2nd District representative and chairman of the policy committee, said. "Many teachers have two Facebook accounts, a personal one and one for teaching. But the policy does set up a couple of standards."
The Internet use policy will add a social networking section that states district staff are prohibited from posting data, documents, photographs or inappropriate information that is likely to create a material and substantial disruption of classroom activity. Also, staff are not to access their personal social networking sites on school computers or during the school day.
The policy also discourages staff from socializing with students online.
"The same relationship, exchange, interaction, information, or behavior that would be unacceptable in a non-technological medium is unacceptable when done through the use of technology," the policy states.
The policy committee approved the change at its meeting Oct. 23. As a committee recommendation, the policy change did not require a motion or second in order to be considered by the board, and was unanimously approved on first reading.
Also approved on first reading was a change to the substitute teachers policy to reflect a change in state law. The policy now allows for employment of substitute teachers through a third party public or private employer, such as a temp agency.
"That's not something we're planning on doing," Janeway said. "It's a very expensive proposition and to use a temp agency would cost considerably more."
However, Janeway noted state law had changed and the policy needed to reflect that.
Policy changes require two successful readings before they become effective.