Mediaboss Marketing

Friday September 28, 2012

DAWSON RASPUZZI

Staff Writer

ARLINGTON -- The Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union delayed approval of a social networking policy that prohibits online communication between students and staff.

A motion to approve the policy was rescinded Wednesday after the board learned principals and the districts attorney had yet to review the policy that has been in the works since last school year. The policy would be the first of its kind in the area putting restrictions on social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter and other sites that continue to increase in popularity both among children and adults.

In addition to many common sense points in the proposed policy -- such as obeying all laws, following confidentiality requirements, and refraining from defamation of character, to name a few -- it also looks to separate employees personal and professional lives.

The policy cautions employees about the content they post on their personal Websites, although it does not prohibit positing items that may be deemed inappropriate by some. Instead, Superintendent Karen Gallese said, the policy is intended to be less restrictive of rights of employee on their personal time, but to distance that personal time from their professions.

Gallese said the four-page policy was drafted by BVSUs three-member Policy Committee and herself using other districts policies as templates. Although, there are few examples of such a policy. Neighboring supervisory unions -- Southwest Vermont and Bennington-Rutland -- have Internet-use policies, but nothing specifically addressing social networking nor communication between students and staff outside of school.

A social networking policy was the idea of previous Superintendent Thomas Gallagher and the process began prior to Galleses hire this summer. Gallese said she agrees there is a need for one with the intent to prohibit social networking at the schools and restrict personal or damaging information from being made public.

Part of the policy states "staff should never use or access social networking sites of pupils and should never accept an invitation to friend a pupil."

See the article here:
BVSU delays approval of stiff new social networking policy