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CLIFTON - The school district has adopted a new social networking policy to guide teachers and other staff on proper use of online communication, email and text messages.

The same policy has been adopted by a number of districts across North Jersey, as officials try and to prevent online posts and texts that might be deemed inappropriate or offensive. The policy warns staff to use caution when communicating with students or publishing online and to set appropriate boundaries between personal and public online behaviors.

According to the policy, school staff shouldn't:

xMake statements that defame district employees, students or their families, or that violate policies on discrimination or harassment.

xPost materials that are sexually graphic or promote violence.

xUse their school title unless the communication is official.

xUpdate their status on social networking sites during the school day unless it involves a school project.

Clifton school board member Mary Kowal said the new policy was needed because of the prevalence of social media use.

_"Everyone is tightening up their policies and leaving no stone unturned, so to speak," she said. "It's a preventive measure to separate your personal life from your school life."

Teachers have been disciplined and even fired for comments or photos posted online. A Paterson teacher was suspended last year after referring to her first-grade students as "future criminals" on Facebook; another New Jersey teacher was suspended after posting anti-gay remarks.

Read more from the original source:
Clifton is latest district to rein in social networking by staff