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Individual board members may communicate to share information or expertise. The Board does not condone any communication (i.e., telephone, conference call, mail, or e-mail), directly or serially, which has the intent or effect of circumventing the Open Meetings Law. In order to ensure compliance with records retention, Freedom of Information Laws and discovery requirements, all e-mail communications concerning school district business should be through the school district issued e-mail account.

Freedom of Information Law

In addition, the Board recognizes communications maintained in some physical form, including e-mail stored in a computer,

that are received or prepared for use in board business or containing information relating to board business may be

regarded as public records which may be inspected by any person upon request, unless otherwise made confidential by

state or federal law.

Board members shall avoid reference to confidential information about employees, students or other matters in e-mail communications because of the risk of improper disclosure. Board members shall comply with the same standards as school employees with regard to confidential information.

Cross-ref:

1120, School District Records

2160, School District Officer and Employee Code of Ethics

Ref:

Public Officers Law §§ 102, 103, 108

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g

Robert J. Freeman, Executive Director, NYS Committee on Open Government “E-Mail: Food for Thought”

Adoption date: May 7, 2018