NEPN/NSBA Code: BEB 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The School Committee recognizes that many, if not most, of its members, are active users of social media, including but not limited to, online platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and other digital media such as blogs and personal websites. The School Committee understands that while social media can be a positive tool for supporting schools and encouraging community engagement, Committee members need to be aware of the legal and ethical considerations that arise when they post, “message,” or otherwise interact with others on social media platforms.

It is not the intent of this policy to interfere with or restrict a Committee member’s freedom of speech but to set standards for social media conduct that are consistent with law and Committee policy, including the Committee’s Code of Ethics.

Committee members shall comply with the following provisions:

• Committee members shall not post on social media or engage in online discussions as a substitute for deliberations at Committee meetings. Committee members should be aware that social media activity can be perceived as a meeting if a sufficient number (a quorum) of Committee members are involved on the site to influence or determine the course of action that will be taken by the Committee, even if other people are posting to the site as well.

• Committee members should be aware that any posting that pertains to school unit matters may create a “record” that is subject to laws and regulations pertaining to the retention and disposition of local government records, and to discovery in legal proceedings involving the Committee or the school unit. 

• Committee members shall avoid disclosing confidential or personally identifiable information about students (including images), school unit employees, or Committee matters or discussions that have taken place in executive sessions.  Committee members shall comply with the same standards as school employees with regard to confidential information.

Committee members should adhere to the following ethical guidelines when using social media in their role as public officials:

A Committee member should:

• Recognize that they have no authority to speak on behalf of the Committee unless specifically designated to do so, and make it clear that they are speaking in their individual capacity;

• Feel free to invite the public to upcoming school district events, share information about public hearings on bills that affect the schools, and share links to the public information about the district (e.g. the proposed budget), and the like, but be clear that they are doing so as an individual and not in any official capacity;

• Conduct themselves on social media in a manner that reflects well on the Committee and on the school unit, and with the decorum expected of an elected official; 

• Avoid posting in anger, even when provoked;

• Refrain from harassing, defaming, or disparaging fellow Committee members or others based on racial, religious, or other personal characteristics;

• Keep deliberations within meetings of the Committee; 

• Take care to avoid disclosing confidential or personally identifiable information about students (including images), school unit employees, or Committee discussions that have taken place in executive sessions;

• Avoid posting information that is misleading or inaccurate or which has not been released to the public;

• Not make any promise that they will vote in a particular way;

• Avoid posting content that indicates they have reached an opinion on a pending matter;

• Direct persons presenting concerns or complaints through social media to follow the Committee’s policy pertaining to public concerns and complaints;

• When summarizing discussions or actions that took place at Committee meetings, share only information from open meetings and make it clear that the posting is not an official record of the meeting. A Committee member should never disclose discussions that have occurred in executive sessions.

• Retain electronic records, including the Committee member’s own posts and content others post to the Committee member’s account when required to do so by law, regulations, or legal process.

• Comply with the school unit’s acceptable use rules, as applicable to school unit employees, when using school-unit-owned devices or technology resources, or when accessing the Internet through the school unit’s network using a personal device.

Legal reference:    1 MRSA § 401 et seq.

20-A MRSA § 6001-6002

20 USC § 1232g

Cross Reference: BBAA‒Board Member Authority and Responsibilities

BCA‒Board Member Code of Ethics

BEC‒Executive Sessions

GBJ‒Personnel Records and Files

JRA‒Student Education Records and Information

KE‒Public Concerns and Complaints

Adopted:  June 6, 2022